Gifting

After Santa left and Papa returned from the "bathroom", 

we opened up the rest of the gifts.

Fun BIG gift from Aunt Mindy.  We smothered it in melted chocolate and it was really pretty good!

Hannah sewed her cousins these pillows all by herself!

Claire (who didn't want to take off her lamb ears after the play) enjoyed her doll high chair!

My 5 precious grandkids!

waiting for his sponge bugs to grow

He waited and waited....

Should have used warm water instead of cold.

My Daddy loves KU.

After opening all the gifts, we had dinner - both the American fare as well as the Japanese New Year's food.

Although we were celebrating our Christmas on New Year's, we were graced with snow as the evening drew to a close.

* * * * *

I LOVE giving gifts to my grandchildren and children!  Not just at Christmas, but any time of the year!  I give them things because I love them and delight in them!  God delights in us too!

"The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17

If my children chose to reject the gift I was giving them, it would be disappointing.  Sure, there may be times they may not like it, but at least they aren't vocal about it to my face.  My Mom often gives us gifts she picks up at the thrift store as a gag.  At least we think it is a gag.  We never, ever tell her what a silly gift it is.  How rude would that be??

(Yes, we did get one of these one year. It wags it's tail to music.  

We did get a good laugh out of it)

 Don't you think our Heavenly Father is sad when we reject a gift He wants to give us? Or tell Him we don't want it?  God LOVES to give good gifts!  He offers the gift of eternal life with Him, but so many reject that offer.  The gift of salvation is free, and the motive for the gift is nothing more than the grace and love of the Giver.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23


He also gives us spiritual gifts.  What if we chose not to use that gift.

For example, I love to teach little children.  I believe that is something God has given to me.  Some people find it so difficult to tell a Bible lesson, but for me it comes easily.  Story telling is so fun.  What if I would say "Nope, I don't feel like teaching this lesson at Awana, or Children's church, or to the grandkids."  And what if our kids wouldn't let their kids use their new toys we got them at Christmas.  That would be silly!

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." 1 Peter 4:10


So, kids, hope you are enjoying and using the gifts we gave you this Christmas!!!