What do you want for Christmas? 

I have been asked that question a lot recently by my wife. The reason she has to keep asking is because I really don’t know what I want for Christmas.

1. Socks (√)
2. Underwear (√)
3. A wife and kids who love me (√)

Is there really anything more to be added to that list? Okay, maybe a gift card to Barnes and Noble could be added to that list, and a Starbucks gift card, and a iTunes gift card, and a…anyway where was I? Oh yes, what do I want for Christmas?

I really don’t know how to answer to that question but I do appreciate the heart of that question. The heart of that question is love. My wife doesn’t just want to give me a gift; she wants to give me a gift I want. The desire of her heart isn’t to give me just anything but to give me something that will fulfill my heart’s desire. There are countless number of things she could give me but she wants to give something that counts to me. Therefore, she keeps asking:          

What do you want for Christmas?

Christmas really isn’t about me though and it really isn’t about you either. Christmas is about Christ. It’s the day set aside to celebrate his life changing birth. The angel of the Lord told the shepherds:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11 NIV).

Christmas is about Christ. It is a celebration of the birth of the One who would “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 NIV).

Since Christmas is about Christ I got to thinking that maybe it would be nice if we asked Him the question my wife has been asking me: What do you want for Christmas? 

When Christ was born the angels gave Him praise (Luke 2:13), the shepherds gave Him glory (Luke 2:20), and the Magi gave Him gold, incense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). I wonder what Christ would want us to give Him this Christmas?

There are so many things we could give Him but it would be so much better to actually give Him something He wants.  You could wait until you’re finished reading this entire post before you ask but I would rather you stop reading (briefly) and starting asking. Let me hear you now in 3, 2, 1…

What do you want for Christmas?

I think I heard you but more importantly I know Christ heard you. I am certain He appreciates the heart of what He heard; the desire of your heart to give Him the desire of His heart. 

Now that you’ve asked, what’s next?

What’s next is waiting to hear back from Christ and you will hear back from Him. Unlike me, Christ knows what He wants for Christmas; after all, He is all-knowing.

Once you hear back from Christ the only thing left to do is give Him what He wants. That’s what Christmas is really all about. 

As I bring this to a conclusion I do so by answering my wife’s question:

What do you want for Christmas?

I want her to know how much it means to me that she loves me enough to give me what I want. 

1. Socks (√)
2. Underwear (√)
3. A wife and kids who love me (√)
4. A wife that wants to give me something I want (√)

There’s really nothing more to add to that list.

©2016 Travis L. Edwards. All Rights Reserved.