One of the traditions that my family and I observe each Christmas is the hanging of an additional stocking. It serves two purposes. First, when people come over they can see 6 stockings hung and know that there are 5 people in our family so they always ask, “Who is the extra stocking for?” Secondly, it is a reminder that we need to give something to the person that the stocking represents. Just as I have a stocking that gets stuffed with some gifts, so do this “other” stocking. It is our stocking for Jesus. After all Christmas is the celebration of his birth so we felt it was only right that we give him a gift each Christmas as well. Every Christmas since Melody and I have been married, we write down a “gift” that we want to give Jesus and we put it in the stocking. Often it is a gift of an “attitude” or a “discipline” or a goal of some sort. In our “Jesus Stocking” is a collection of 18 years of gifts that we have given to him. Our kids have also been involved in giving him gifts as well.
Honestly, there have been a few years that we didn’t follow through on the gifts we gave to him. When looking back at some of those gifts, it provides for me both a reminder of His grace for me when I fail and motivation for me to love him even more.
This year, I wanted to do something very measurable and specific. I have been convicted so much lately about reading, studying, and memorizing His word. The psalmist writes,
“How can a person keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
So my gift this year to Jesus is to memorize His word. I share this with you for encouragement and for accountability. I have committed to memorizing the book of Ephesians by June 1. Will you join me in giving a gift to Jesus this new year? Your gift may be to write an encouraging note to someone each week, or invest a higher percentage of your income into the Kingdom each month, or read through the Bible this year. Maybe you could also join me in storing up His word in your heart so that you might not sin against him. You don’t have to memorize a book…you could start with the verses I mentioned above. (Psalm 119:9-11). It’s your gift to him and whatever you give, I am sure it will bless him and bless you as well. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
