2 Days to Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025
“Best Late Gift”
It is just two days until Christmas. At this point, it is unlikely that you can order a decent gift and have it delivered in time. As a result, panic can surface, prompting some people to jump in their cars and rush to the stores. What did we forget that feels so important? Flour? Wine? Candy and sweets? Or is it something more urgent, like an unexpected guest coming for Christmas with nothing waiting for them?
The panic that surfaces at this point in the season tries to pull us into a bad place. Our hearts do not need additional pressure. Our minds can only take so much before exhaustion or headaches appear. Even our bodies need a break.
The best gift we can give to others at Christmas is the same gift God desires from us: our presence. Like God, our families, loved ones, friends, and neighbors are not expecting expensive gifts. What they truly want is for us to be present and to share in the spirit of the season. That becomes difficult when our hearts are racing and our nerves are frayed.
Think back on past holidays when we acted, responded, or reacted poorly. Those moments are usually rooted in stress, pain, or thoughtlessness. None of us want that, and neither do the people we love.
So today, instead of panicking, choose calm. Breathe. Slow down. You are the most important gift you bring to this season. If a quick trip to the store for socks or candy helps settle your mind, that is fine. Just take it easy.
Our best gift is always ourselves. God created us uniquely in His image so that we could participate in His love for the world. God is not interested in anything we can purchase. God has already given the ultimate gift by coming into the world to be with us, to help us, and to remind us that presence matters more than presents.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT)
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