Better to Give than to Receive

By Principal Dwayne Jobst

It is during this time of the year that I am flooded with the memories of Christmas’ past…Christmas Eve services, opening gifts, and spending Christmas Day with the relatives. Growing up with 9 brothers and sisters on a farm in central Iowa has provided me with these cherished memories. I also remember as a young boy how I dreaded going back to school after Christmas break because I knew I would be asked by my friends, “What did you receive for Christmas?” The harvest yields and the livestock markets prices would determine the answer I gave to my friends. Coming from a large family limited the gifts we did receive. I recall in some years it may have been a shared family gift or just the necessary replacement of personal clothing. As years have passed, I become more thankful for the simple things of this season.

Fast forward to today where I have the privilege every year of leading the Christmas chapel at Lake Country Lutheran where I am humbled to serve as principal. This year as I prepared for the chapel, God placed upon my heart the verse from Acts 20:35…. ” It is better to give than to receive.” I realize many of us love to receive gifts but I challenged the students on the importance of being a gift giver. The simple question I wanted them to respond to after Christmas was, “What did I give to someone this Christmas?”

There is one precious gift that we all can give and it doesn’t cost anyone a dime. It is the gift of time.

I challenged the LCL student body to spend time away from their social media devices and give their parents, a brother or sister, a grandparent, or a friend your valued gift of TIME.

During this time of the year, many of us suffer from “meism.” I long regretted my decision on my spring break in college that I did not make the trip to see my grandparents because I was too busy focusing on me.  It seems like yesterday that I got the call from my dad informing me that Grandpa Calley had died of a heart attack. That was 42 years ago and how I wish I would have made the effort to visit my grandfather and share the gift of my time with him.

As you finalize your plans to travel to the manger of Bethlehem, I would encourage you to make the effort to spend undistracted time with the people you love. It won’t cost you a dime, and may be one of the most cherished gifts you can give this Christmas season.