The Season of Forgiving

The Season of Forgiving

            It's that time of year again. The time of bright lights and caroling and loved ones coming together. That's right it's Christmas time! The biggest part of Christmas is the giving and receiving of gifts. We spend a ton of time and money making sure we find others truly special gifts for everyone on our list. As Christians, we celebrate the season by acknowledging the gift of the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. It is because of this, and the exchanging of gifts with one another, that the holiday season is called the Season of Giving. This is all well and good, but should that be the only focus of this time of year?

            Yes, we should be thankful for and remember the gift of Christ's birth on Christmas. However, how often do we think of why this gift was given to us? Why did God give us this gift in the first place? Put simply, He gave it to us because of sin. Let me explain what I'm thinking. At the start of human history, Adam and Eve sinned against God because they couldn't follow one rule! (And you know, they were tempted and led to believe falsities, but you know what I mean) This act set the world on a downward trajectory of sin and separation from God. God knew that in order to continue a relationship with mankind, there would need to be forgiveness and the ability for us to seek it. Jesus coming to earth was the start of a path to mankind receiving forgiveness from God. When we repent and accept Jesus as our savior, we get salvation and forgiveness, now that's an amazing gift!

            So this holiday season, be thankful for the gift of Jesus, but also the forgiveness that is brought to us by His birth. Maybe this time we can give AND forgive others! Whether it be something serious or some petty grudges, forgiving others should be part of our holiday traditions. I know I've held on to grudges in the past, but that wasn't a good reflection of God. He offered forgiveness after we disobeyed Him. He made it possible to find love and salvation in Him, even though we messed up. I think forgiveness is an important aspect of Christmas and everyday life that is too often overlooked. To best reflect the God we serve, let's forgive those around us, starting this season and going on throughout life. And let's not forget where our gift and forgiveness come from this Christmas.