Putting On Traits of Christ as a Tradition this Christmas

Christmas traditions are one of my favorite parts of this season. One of my Christmas day traditions is a little strange … if someone gives me clothing, I will immediately put it on and leave it on. If I receive multiple pieces of clothing, I will put them all on at the same time. I may have five or six shirts on at the same time any given year. Although it is a little odd, my family looks forward to “dad” putting on clothes at Christmas.

Joy

This Christmas season I want to “put on” some other things. I want to wrap myself in the joy that the Christmas season brings to so many people. Not the “happy” kind of joy, but the lasting joy that comes from the hope that Jesus brings to all who follow Him.

These last few years have been difficult in so many ways. Personally, I have had many dear loved ones pass away and friends that have gone through painful trials and hurts. However, even with the sting of these events, I can find joy in my sadness, knowing that I have a Savior who knows and loves me.

Hope

I also want to show and share the hope that I have in Christ Jesus. I have heard it said that a person can survive a week without food, a couple of days without water, and just a few minutes without oxygen, but a person cannot survive a second without hope. Hope is defined as an expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Because Jesus came to this world to save us from our sins, we now have hope for the present life we live and the expectation of eternity in Heaven with Him.

Gratitude-Led Generosity

Finally, I want to display generosity and gratitude. These two attributes are like a pair of gloves – they go hand in hand. I am forever grateful for the gift given to us by God in His Son Jesus. My response to this gratitude is to live an extravagantly generous life. I want to be generous with the financial resources God has given me and with my time, giftings, relationships, and testimony.

This Christmas I want to exhibit joy, hope, generosity, and gratefulness, all for the glory of God. I encourage my friends to do the same in their relationships at the end of this year. Whether you are an advisor deep in meetings with clients or a family seeing several relatives after a long time, lead with the traits that Christ gave us and make them contagious. Jesus came to this earth as a meek and lowly baby and offered His life as a gift to save us. Let’s accept His gift, put in on immediately, and display His gift for all to see! Merry Christmas!