I hope you have a very merry Christmas today! Our family sure did (and still is). Kevin and Kristen couldn't be with us today, nor could Brian. We miss them all very much. We hope they're having a merry Christmas, though.

It's such a joy opening presents from loved ones. I especially enjoy watching little ones do so, with their unbounded excitement and gratitude. It's a nice metaphor for the free gift of salvation our Father offers us through the substitutionary and atoning sacrifice of His Son, a gift we only need open to accept.

Down to the nitty gritty... What did you get this year? What goodies were your favorites? Were they from your wife? Parents? Brother? My youngest is a big fan of American Girl, so almost all of her gifts were American Girl things. She got the new Julie, a 1970s girl, and she's already using the lingo ad nauseam. She plans to grow her hair out to match Julie's. (She also got a Red Ryder BB gun, to her mother's chagrin and father's delight.) She made a beautiful necklace for her Mom; I'm sure it's one of my wife's favorites. Even the dog got a couple gifts and was overly excited about them. I was given many wonderful gifts this year--far more than I deserve, to be sure (another analogy of salvation). The most unique was a genuine, folded steel katana with a razor edge. I also received an American Girl gift, though: a miniature typewriter. It's only 4 inches big, but the register moves when you type, advances when you throw the carriage return, and even rings a bell when you reach the end of the line.

What wondrous gifts did you receive that really touched you or meant something extra special this year? What gifts did you give others that you thought were extra special? Which gave you greater joy, giving or receiving?

There is certainly no shortage of pagan roots to many of the modern practices surrounding Christmas. Not knowing them, though, may be to your advantage, keeping your focus on the Christ Child Himself. I wouldn't recommend making too many analogies between Christmas traditions and the Gospel; but you may be able to use a few of them (e.g., gifts) as a means of telling others the Good News that they may come to know the Lord.