Christmas!

Have you loved someone so much that you would do ANYTHING for that person? Anything?

I haven't. I love my parents a lot, but I don't know if I would do anything for them. I love my siblings so much, but I don't know how much grief I'd take from them before I gave up. My grandmother is so dear to me, but I can't say that I would do everything just to keep up our relationship.

The truth is, I'm realizing more and more how selfish I am. I do things the way I do because, well, I just feel like it. I look out for my own interests ahead of the interests of others. When I serve, I'm not always doing it because I genuinely want to.

We celebrate the birth of Christ every year, and something new hit me this year. God is desperately in love with us. God, the Creator of everything, is desperately, passionately, and recklessly in love with you. 

Yes, you.

He was so desperate to bring us into his love while we were stuck in our sick misery that he gave up everything. I can just imagine him looking at me, in the middle of my mess, and saying, "I love HER. I want that beautiful mess. What can I do to make this work?" 

And he gave up his glory, came as creation, and carried our crosses. He defeated Hell and came back to hold my hand. He walks me through my pain, brokenness, and insufficiency.

God is good, whole, and perfect without me. He doesn't need me at all, but he loves me.

I don't deserve it, and I can't ruin it.

Sounds like the best gift ever, doesn't it?

Merry Christmas, everyone!