Christmas lists are often filled with material items like iPods, video games and toys.
A wish list comprised of things we want.
We purchase these items with money we've earned and we give and receive with joy and happiness for the possessions.
But some Christmas presents cannot be bought or made.
The gift of life is the greatest gift we can ever receive.
My friend sent an email to me about the only item she has on her list; to have one more Christmas morning with her husband.
You see, he has terminal brain cancer and his days are numbered.
She simply asked all of her friends and family to give him the gift of their time so that maybe it will extend his.
Her hope is that all of the positive visits will keep his spirits high enough to extend his life a few more weeks.
She just wants to wake up one more Christmas morning and look into his eyes and celebrate the joyous day with the man she loves.
Now after I read the email, I looked at the list I had made up for the items I was going to buy for others and the items that I was hoping someone would purchase for me.
Everything on that list seemed to be so selfish and unthoughtful.
I shouldn't feel satisfied about these items when I have not even been gracious for the best gift I ever received: Life.
Isn't that really what Christmas is all about anyway? The gift of life.
God gave us his only son so that we could have everlasting life.
It all started with the birth of Jesus.
The gift of his life.
How precious a gift that we all take for granted.
I started to think about my own father, who passed away a couple of years ago.
I remember the vigil we all participated in at his bedside.
As he lay there waiting for God to take him home, we all prayed for God to give us more time with him.
I remember praying for just one more day.
After his death, I cursed God for taking him.
I Soon realized that his life was a gift that had been given to all of us and we needed to be gracious for the time we had spent enjoying that present.
The gift of life is so precious a gift, that we need to appreciate its value while we have it.
With the gift of life comes the gift of time.
Another present that we need to be gracious for receiving.
Thankful enough about whatever time we have to spend on this earth, that we spend it wisely and use it purposefully.
Since none of us knows how much we've been given, we need to make sure we do the absolute best with it while we have it.
We need to appreciate and value the lives of the people we love as well as our own.
We need to live a life of purpose and kindness and be accepting and gracious for the time and life of everyone around us.
This Christmas, I will ask for one more day.
One more day of many days to spend with the people that I love.
Having them in my life is the greatest gift I have ever received and the only true present that I will ever want.
There is no amount of money, prestige or power that can purchase this gift.
It is given to each of us temporarily and its usage is up to us individually.
I'm going to spend time with my friend and her husband instead of at the Mall.
I'm going to change my list to include items that will bring time spent together instead of items, like video games that promote solitude.
I'm going to appreciate and be thankful for all of the beautiful people that I have the opportunity to share my life with.
This Christmas, the gift of life is going to have meaning.