Tangible Things Are Nothing

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~Matthew 6:19-21

A few days ago in English class we were to write a journal entry about what one thing we would save from our house (other than people and pets) in a fire. I sat, dumbfounded, staring at my paper for five minutes before concluding that nothing in my room or my house was that important to me. Sure, I have souvenirs from elementry school, class projects from 8th grade, and a very expensive Biology text book, but nothing that seems to be worth anything to me. I value memories more than anything. If I were to get permadent amnesia, I don't think I could live with myself.
And then it occured to me...Everyone is always complaining about how Christmas has been turned into a gift-giving holiday. It's true! This year I didn't really want or need anything, but no way was I going to tell my mum to donate to a charity (or anything like that) in my name. The fact is, I'm greedy. Christmas comes and we get presents. Easter comes and we get chocolate.
I'm fed up with only wanting tangible things. I want God! I want a relationship with Him. That I think is worth more to me than anything or anyone on this earth. Christmastime should be a time when your relationship with God gets a chance to grow. We are suppose to be celebrating the birth of his son! You don't go to a baby shower and expect other people to give you gifts, do you? No! That would be unthinkable! This time of year we should be focusing on God and giving Him gifts! Gifts of our souls! Gifts of our time! Gifts of our heart! Gifts of kindness. Gifts of spreading the Good News. Gifts of devotion. A gift of total surrender of ourselves, so that His spirit can overtake our bodies and He can be the sole owner of us.
God has given me so many gifts! The gift to live on earth, the gift of safeness and security, the gift of hope, the gift of faith, the gift of love! Why can't we return His love?
This year I want more out of Christmas. I want more spirituality, more connection with God. This year I want to celebrate Jesus's birth. I want to sing, scream, out to God and tell Him thank you, with all my soul, for sending his one and only begotton son to save me, to let me live. Every day should be about God, but we all know how hard that is! You would think we could all take a day or two from our busy, unGodly, lives just to say thanks.

If the only prayer you say in your whole life is "Thank you," that would suffice -Meister Eckhart, theologian
God gave us a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say 'thank you?' -William A. Ward, author