I'll admit it. I loved Christmas when I was a kid. I'd like to say I was deeply moved by the spirit of the season, by the promise of peace on earth and good will toward men. But mostly I just liked the presents. I used to wait all year long for that Christmas morning feeling: the anticipation of finding what to my young eyes looked like a mountain of gifts sitting under the tree.
Of course, it wasn't just getting presents that made the holiday special. The effort my parents put into making it a wonderful day, the care they showed in picking out just the right toys for each of their four children, the unique family traditions we shared year after year—these were all expressions of my parents' love for us. And we felt it.
As I got older, though, I realized that Christmas is about more than receiving gifts or even feeling cared for by family and friends. The real gift of Christmas is the message of love that God communicates to His children. This message isn't limited to a specific season, to those who can afford to buy expensive presents, or even to people of one particular faith. It's available to everyone. Any day of the year.
