My son’s Christmas musical at church was this past weekend. It told the story of a group of kids who weren’t allowed to present their Christmas musical on Main Street as they’d always done. The Mayor of the town was concerned he’d lose votes if he allowed their faith-based Christmas program to go on. So the kids rallied the town, going door to door, looking for those who would call and encourage the Mayor to change his mind.

They visited two houses that were decorated to the extreme, covered with Christmas lights and bows and wreaths, but the kids were sadly surprised to discover that even though the houses themselves were lit up with Christmas spirit, their owners had a different idea and to them Christmas was not about God’s son coming to Earth but about the flashy and politically correct.

Then the kids got to the third house. A simple Christmas wreath hung on the door. No lights or animated Christmas scenes were on display. Just a wreath. One of the kids questioned whether anyone in a house this simply decorated could really appreciate Christmas. After talking with the woman who lived there, they learned that she actually loved Christmas, but her husband was in the Air Force. “I couldn’t put the lights up myself this year but there’s still plenty of Christmas spirit inside,” she said.

I had to smile because her house looked exactly like my house this year. There’s a wreath on the door, and a bow on the mailbox, but no Christmas lights. And the star to our Christmas tree waits patiently off to the side. Thankfully my husband will return from his 3-month Navy school just six days before Christmas. The best Christmas present I could hope for.

This year has been a hard one, for many. A tough economy is just part of what military families have dealt with as we’ve prepared for deployments, lived through deployments, are looking at more deployments in the future. For Guard and Reserve families, it’s been just as tough if not tougher, for if it hasn’t been deployment, your challenge may have been unemployment. Citizen soldiers have come home from war only to discover their civilian jobs deleted and the prospects of new work not so good. After all, if an employer has the choice between an applicant who may leave for a year, and an applicant who isn’t going anywhere, it’s safe to say which applicant they’ll pick. That has been my family’s challenge this year but God continues to take care of us and we are grateful.

During times like these, where Christmas presents may be fewer or travel to family back home may not be possible, I think it’s important we remember to look for the gifts we’ve already been given. Our husbands, our children. The people God has put into our lives like our family and friends. The moments God did something to give us encouragement or even just the sweet simple assurance that we aren’t alone.

So the house may be a little less festive this year. So you miss the All Couples Christmas party at church because your half of your couple isn’t here. Still, God has given you and I much and we can be glad.

1 Peter 4:10-11 reminds us that “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Of course, the most precious gift we’ve been given is the gift of Christ, who came to die and be brought back to life to save us from our sins. If you have never made a commitment to Christ and would like to know how, please email me (sara@wivesoffaith.org). I would love to help walk you through in knowing what it means to start a relationship with Him.

What are the gifts God has given you that you can use this Christmas season (and all of the next year too)?

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