When Christmas rolls around, we think of Christmas trees, multi-colored lights, parties, food, gifts under the tree, and lots of fun and laughter with friends, family, and loved ones. This is all a gift of love.  We also think of Santa Claus and children opening presents. And we think of the wise men, the star over Bethlehem, and, of course, the Virgin Mary and the baby in the manger.

It’s all feel-good stuff, and we crave it. We also LOVE it.

It’s during times like these that we need to remember that word — LOVE.

God is the Gift of Love

God IS love. And the reason baby Jesus was born was so that we could know what love really is, what it does, and, more importantly, who it is. He is the one to come and show us exactly what it looks like to love like God loves each one of us. I think we sometimes forget that Christmas is all of those things that I mentioned above. But it’s really about love in the most perfect way. The way God loves us.

So if Christmas is the celebration of love coming to earth, and God showing us His love and how we are supposed to love, it seems we ought to consider this when it comes to the ways we love each other this holiday season.

What is the nature of love?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says it best. And for easier reading, we’ve broken the verse into bullet points.

Love:

  • Is patient and kind.
  • Is not jealous or boastful or proud, or rude.
  • Does not demand its own way.
  • Is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
  • Does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
  • Never gives up or loses faith. It is always hopeful, and it will endure through every circumstance.
  • Will last forever.
  • Is always doing the very best for the object of one’s love.

This is what love is and what love does. It’s as simple as that! There is no mystery or ambiguity. Love recognizes a unique value in the one you love and chooses always to affirm their value. It is a choice!

So think about it. Check out the above attributes of love and see how God himself loves us, and YOU, that way.

Gift of Love Conquers All

All we’re saying here is that love conquers all, and it’s the most important element of the holiday season. A neat exercise to help remind yourself of that fact is to put your name into the above verse wherever the word “love” is. Are you actually expressing love in these ways to your family and friends? These would be a great way to go through the holiday season with everyone you meet, especially those you love.

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Did we leave anything out? How are you expressing love this holiday season? Do you have any examples of how love is given and received in your marriage? Please send us a quick email and help us keep this conversation going at Mike@MikeandSusanDawson.com.