Polmont Old
Parish Church - Scotland
Parish Church - Scotland
Jerome's Jottings
Polmont Old Parish Church
The Best Present
Seriously, what has been the best Christmas present that you have ever received?
When I think back on all the gifts that I have ever received at Christmas, the one that does stand out in my mind, oddly enough, is an electric remote controlled car that I was given as a young boy. Actually, the remote bit was a misnomer. There was this long wire thingy that was attached to the car and the operating device. In spite of that, I really loved that toy. I played with it incessantly to the point that I suspect its mysterious disappearance was an integral part of my parents retaining their sanity.
To be honest, I don’t recollect who gave me the toy, or if I wrote a thank you letter to him/her/Santa. I also don’t know if it was given for a purpose. If it was to get me interested in things vehicular, it singularly failed. I know as much about cars today as I did then! If it was given to distract my parents, it certainly achieved its purpose. I suspect, however, it was given because there was someone who knew me, cared about me and wanted to give pleasure to a young lad.
It is not the presents that I remember getting, so much as the bedlam of family gatherings. Whilst I struggle to remember even a dozen gifts that I have been given over the years, I remember so many Christmas gatherings. These were and are wonderful times: noise, colour, trees, lights, the smell of cooking, food galore around a big decorated table, lunches, suppers, leftovers, cakes and pies, nuts and fruit, themes and laughter.
In every thing, there were always people: Mom, Dad, Granny Lily, Uncle Bill, Aunt Kay, my siblings home, family friends. In later years, gathering at the home of Tracey’s parents where everyone and anyone was invited to be with them to celebrate.
And church – huge gatherings, joy and peace. People who cared about one another, gathering to be with one another and to celebrate.
I assure you, there is nothing better in the entire world than people gathering with a common purpose. To be, and to be with the other is what we enjoy more than anything. Yes, even more than remote controlled cars.
The greatest gift that we can offer to anyone is the present of our presence – our being as one. This is what Jesus did. He came to show us just how close God is to us. He cares for us so much that He becomes one with us and He calls us and takes us to be one with the Father.
Let’s be honest, Christmas is so much bling (nice bling mind), but the heart of Christmas is relationship. God’s relationship to humanity is God’s present to us; our relationship with God is our choice to accept the gift of His Presence and to reflect it into life around us. God forgive us that anyone we know should be alone at Christmas. So let us make sure about Christmas Presence.
Jerome
Polmont Old Parish Church
The Best PresentSeriously, what has been the best Christmas present that you have ever received?
When I think back on all the gifts that I have ever received at Christmas, the one that does stand out in my mind, oddly enough, is an electric remote controlled car that I was given as a young boy. Actually, the remote bit was a misnomer. There was this long wire thingy that was attached to the car and the operating device. In spite of that, I really loved that toy. I played with it incessantly to the point that I suspect its mysterious disappearance was an integral part of my parents retaining their sanity.
To be honest, I don’t recollect who gave me the toy, or if I wrote a thank you letter to him/her/Santa. I also don’t know if it was given for a purpose. If it was to get me interested in things vehicular, it singularly failed. I know as much about cars today as I did then! If it was given to distract my parents, it certainly achieved its purpose. I suspect, however, it was given because there was someone who knew me, cared about me and wanted to give pleasure to a young lad.
It is not the presents that I remember getting, so much as the bedlam of family gatherings. Whilst I struggle to remember even a dozen gifts that I have been given over the years, I remember so many Christmas gatherings. These were and are wonderful times: noise, colour, trees, lights, the smell of cooking, food galore around a big decorated table, lunches, suppers, leftovers, cakes and pies, nuts and fruit, themes and laughter.
In every thing, there were always people: Mom, Dad, Granny Lily, Uncle Bill, Aunt Kay, my siblings home, family friends. In later years, gathering at the home of Tracey’s parents where everyone and anyone was invited to be with them to celebrate.
And church – huge gatherings, joy and peace. People who cared about one another, gathering to be with one another and to celebrate.
I assure you, there is nothing better in the entire world than people gathering with a common purpose. To be, and to be with the other is what we enjoy more than anything. Yes, even more than remote controlled cars.
The greatest gift that we can offer to anyone is the present of our presence – our being as one. This is what Jesus did. He came to show us just how close God is to us. He cares for us so much that He becomes one with us and He calls us and takes us to be one with the Father.
Let’s be honest, Christmas is so much bling (nice bling mind), but the heart of Christmas is relationship. God’s relationship to humanity is God’s present to us; our relationship with God is our choice to accept the gift of His Presence and to reflect it into life around us. God forgive us that anyone we know should be alone at Christmas. So let us make sure about Christmas Presence.
Jerome
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