聖誕節就快到了，到處洋溢著一片過節的氣氛。馬路上車來車往，尤其是靠近購物中心附近的街道，更是車潮不斷。剛來到美國時不是很習慣這個送禮物的習俗，直到這幾年我才漸漸體會出來，送禮物的意義不在它本身的價值，而是在於它背後蘊藏的那一份心意。當我在列送禮名單時，我開始記起過去這一年中有這麼多的人照顧、關心、幫助過我們，我們曾經一起同工，彼此鼓勵，也願意用這個機會，向一些人表達對他們的感謝和關懷。尤其是像我們不是很善於用言語表達的民族，這一份小小的禮物抵過千言萬語。
可惜的是，許多人專注於送/收禮物，卻忘了為什麼我們要慶祝這個日子。那是因為在兩千年前的這一天，神賜給我們全人類一個最大的禮物 -- 祂自己道成肉身，來到我們中間，充充滿滿地有恩典有真理！有許多人甚至改口稱「聖誕快樂」為「假期快樂」。殊不知，若不是祂自己的降生，所有的慶祝都是徒然，我們今天無法活在恩典之中，一切的快樂都只是表面的假象，也沒有永生的盼望。
所以，親愛的朋友們，讓我在此祝你聖誕快樂！願主的恩典充滿在你的生命中！耶穌愛你！
Only two days left before Christmas, you can smell the holiday everywhere. Traffic is busy especially on the streets surrounding shopping centers. I didn't understand why people give gifts on Christmas until recent years. The significance of giving gift is not about the gift itself but the thought and heart behind it. When I started to write down names on my list, I recollected that there were many people helped me and cared for me in the past year and I remembered how we have worked together and encouraged each other. So I love to use the small gift as a token of my appreciation and care. It means a lot especially for us who are not good at express ourselves in language.
The only thing is, a lot of people only focus on the gift and forgot why we celebrate this special day. It is because God came to earth in human form on this day about 2000 years ago to give us hope and lead the way. Some people even changed from saying "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays". If it is not for Him, all the celebrations are meaningless and there is no hope of eternity.
So, my dear friends, may you have a wonderful Christmas with your family, and may the Lord bless you abundantly in the coming new year!
Merry Christmas!! Jesus loves you and me!
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