Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

By Enoc Garcia, Washington Conference communication director

Christmas is right around the corner, and it is a season of giving gifts!

Although I really enjoy most things related to Christmas (food, music, lights, etc.), I will admit that buying gifts is something that stresses me. Don’t get me wrong, I like giving and receiving gifts.

But the idea of finding the perfect gift for everyone in my list is what gets me.

For one, I don’t like shopping when the mall is crowded. And once I am at a store, I feel that I have about a 45-minute threshold after which I start getting quite antsy, and everything around me starts looking the same. Secondly, I find it harder each year to know what to gift my family and friends. Unless I know what’s on their Amazon wish list, I’m always second guessing if my gift is the right one.

So, I’ve opted for an easy solution – gift cards!

I can choose a general category and my giftees can choose the specifics.

But as I give gift cards, I am aware of the possible danger that my gifts might never truly become a reality. I recently read a news article claiming that Americans have a collective $21 billion in unspent gift cards. That is a lot of money in unclaimed gifts!

The sad reality is that unless we use a gift card right away, we stash it somewhere in our junk drawer thinking that we’ll use it “when the time is right.” Most of the time it is forgotten. Case in point, a couple of weeks ago I “discovered” an unused Walmart gift card I had stored inside a book. Luckily, it had not expired yet.

As I read the gospel narrative, I see a gift-giving God.

In fact, according to John the entire purpose of Jesus coming to dwell with humanity was to gift us grace and truth (John 1:14). Celebrating Jesus during this time of the year is acknowledging that God has given us what we can’t give ourselves: salvation, peace, mercy, forgiveness, eternal life, and the list goes on and on.

But as with earthly gifts, God’s gifts for us are only good to us if we accept them and put them to use. Salvation has already been gifted to us. Let’s live with that reality in mind!

Jesus has promised us peace.

Let’s take a hold of it and claim it as ours. During challenging times, we can find rest in His promises. As we talk about Pentecost 2025, let’s consider the gift of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that are already present realities.

This Christmas, as we exchange gifts, let’s take time to unwrap and enjoy the eternal gifts God has given us!