John 3:16  For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (CSB)

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I finally made it to the grocery store to take care of my bride’s business. Guess which songs were not playing as I wandered the aisles and paid for my purchases? 

I have to say, I was a little disappointed. Last Christmas was on repeat in my head. That earworm will not die. 

Mariah Carey did not perk up my day with

I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you, yeah

Oh well. Much ado about nothing, I suppose. 

A pleasant young woman named Rachel helped me with the aforementioned business matter. Almost everyone I encountered was pleasant. Store employees were helpful. It was as if perky tunes and the reason for the season made spirits light. 

Once again, I was reminded of how God loves everyone, and so should we. This includes people who think those two songs fit the season. 

Jesus shows us how to live and how to love. He lived in a manner that exalted God and served everyone. He loved us so much that he died to pay the penalty for our sins. This includes my judgmental attitude about people who like Christmas songs that aren’t really Christmas songs. 

My sanctification is not quite complete, apparently. 

God loves even the guy whose muffler makes sounds like a shotgun and who enjoys deploying this noisemaker when I am trying to go to sleep. 

God loves everyone who irritates me. He loves everyone who irritates you, too. (I needed to include that last sentence to make myself feel better.)

One thing God and I agree on is that neither of us wants anyone to perish. We want everyone to come to know and experience his grace, mercy, kindness, and salvation. I want for you what God wants for you: A full and meaningful life. I want for you a life overflowing with a deepening and abiding relationship with Jesus that is real and loving. 

Despite my temptation to allow a curmudgeonly spirit to shape my experience of Christmas, I want to have a heart as reshaped and renewed as Scrooge on Christmas morning. May God so bless us every one.

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I will celebrate and share The Gift of Christmas. 

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Our Father, thank you for loving us so much that you did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Thank you for making it possible for us to live full and meaningful lives. Thank you for grace and mercy to wash away the pains of our past and the irritations of our present. Thank you for the gift of salvation that is ours for the asking. Bless us every one with this one gift that endures forever. Amen.