Good morning…and happy Festivus to you and yours. Be fore we move on, “I’ve got a lot of problems with you people!” Not really, just channeling my inner Mr. Costanza from Seinfeld.

As Christmas day draws closer and closer, the anticipation continues to build. Times become even MORE stressful. Cookies, cake and grandmas favorite desert recipes to make. Last minute shopping and gift buying to be completed. Perhaps you haven’t finished-or started-decorating your home. Lots to be done, for sure.

Let’s talk about those gifts. The title for today is “the 2nd best gift”. As a believer and follower of my savior, Jesus Christ, i know what the best gift is: His incomparable grace and love that he has for each one of us. The perfect gift. We just need to accept it. What about the next best gift? When I ask that question, where does your mind take you? Perhaps that favorite toy you picked out of the Sears Wish Book?(if you know, you know). A favorite Christmas memory? Here, I’ll share one with from my childhood(sorry mom if this embarrasses you): back in the day, as me and my sister and brother were growing up, we were quite stealth about finding our “hidden” Christmas gifts and opening them, if they were wrapped. We were quite careful to put the wrapping paper back just so, hoping mom would never know the difference. Well, one year she DID know the difference. Gifts for us 3 kids had non names on them, only numbers. See, her way of combating our little plan was to devise one of her own: she would simply m=number the wrapped gifts, then tell us which numbers belonged to each of us on Christmas morning. Great plan…except she forgot which numbers belonged to which kid. So, we ended up with some pretty interesting gifts! We all still laugh about THAT Christmas to this day.

Now, what about that 2nd best gift? What is it? Well, I’m here to tell that it’s YOU! You are the best gift you can give to someone. You’re smile, a loving and caring heart. Your generosity. Your friendliness towards each other and, towards a complete stranger, THAT is the next best gift. It’s not things that people crave and need, its heart. Giving of yourself to someone else is the ultimate win-win proposition. So, as we approach the big day, remember to give yourself to someone else. Your love, your compassion and tender heart, even your awards-winning smile, is all someone else needs.

Merry Christmas!

Jeff