Stepping Up

Volume 2 Number 12

Gifts of the Magi
(Author unknown)

Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents. Jo, Little Women

Christmas is about gifts and giving. But many of us feel uncomfortable with the emphasis on gi’me, gi’me, gi’me; buy, buy, buy and charge, charge, charge. We admonish our children to remember the reason for the season, even though we have difficulty remembering it ourselves when we’re caught in the chaos and commotion of the holidays.

Today, let’s meditate on the real gifts in the Christmas story. Those gifts were wrapped in miracles, which is probably why we can’t find them at the malls or in mail-order catalogs. The first gift was from God-unconditional love. The next gift came from a Jewish teenager named Mary. Her present was selflessness, the complete surrender of ego that was needed to bring Heaven down to earth. The gifts of her fiancé, Joseph, were trust and faith. He trusted that Mary was not pregnant with another man’s child; he believed there really was a Divine Plan to get them through this mess. The Child brought forgiveness, wholeness, light and second chances. The angel’s gifts were tidings of comfort, joy, and peace; the reassurance that there was nothing to fear, so rejoice. The shepherd boy’s gift was generosity; his favorite lamb for the baby’s birthday present. The innkeeper’s wife’s gifts were compassion and charity. This included a warm, dry, safe place for the homeless family to stay, her best coverlet to wrap the new mother and little one, a meal for Joseph, the donkey’s fresh hay.

Three kings from the east traveled many hot, dusty miles following a bright star in search of a royal birth. They knew of the coming of the “King of Kings.” On their camels’ backs were treasures with which to honor his arrival. But when they arrived in Bethlehem, they found the newborn prince in a cow stall instead of a palace. The shocked Wise Men unwrapped gold, frankincense, any myrrh, but their Real gifts were wonder, acceptance, and courage. They offered wonder by surrendering logic, reason, and common sense. They accepted the impossible, and they suspended skepticism long enough to double-cross the insane King Herod, frantically searching for the child who would change the world. With courage, at the risk of their own lives, the Wise Men helped the young family escape to a safe haven in Egypt.

Oh, yes, Christmas is all about gifts. Nothing but gifts. But such gifts! Gifts tied with heartstrings. Gifts that surprise and delight. Gifts that transform the mundane into the miraculous. Gifts that nurture the souls of both the giver and the given. Perfect gifts. Authentic gifts. The gifts of a Holy, awesome God, a frightened teenage girl, her bewildered sweetheart, the Child who would change the world, forever, the angels, the shepherd boy, the innkeeper’s wife and the Magi.

Unconditional love. Selflessness. Trust. Faith. Forgiveness. Wholeness. Second Chances. Comfort. Joy. Peace. Reassurance. Rejoicing. Generosity. Compassion. Charity. Wonder. Acceptance. Courage.

Ah… to give such gifts--to truly open our hearts to receive such gifts gratefully. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without these gifts.

Healthy Relationships Seminar
Dr. Parziale will be continuing his series, Developing Healthy Relationships. This series is sponsored by Equally Yoked Christian Singles, but is always open to the public.

TUCSON: Saturday, December 4th from 10 AM to 1 PM
Address: 5515 E Grant #210-A, Tucson, AZ

PHOENIX: Saturday, December 11th from 10 AM to 1 PM
Address: 5125 N. 16th #C, Phoenix, AZ

For more information, call InStep at 520-721-0800.
Get Involved

• Join the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries (AMFM).
  Website: www.amfmonline.com
• Tucson: Friday Night Singles: Pantano Christian Church-10355 E. 29th. Street. Dr. Parziale speaks on the 1st and 3rd Fridays at 7 PM. Everyone is welcome.
• Tucson: Friday Night Single Moms program, taught by Lynda Barnes, hosted by Pantano Christian Church-10355 E. 29th Street. Dinner: adults $3, kids free at 6 PM. Class begins at 7:00. Childcare provided from 6:30-9:30 PM. Call 520-298-5395.
• Tucson: Stepcouple Support Group: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 7 PM. Hosted by Ron and Jane Lowery, 6880 E. Hawthorne. For information call: 520-290-1094.
• Tucson: Celebrate Recovery: Tuesday nights at Casas Adobes Baptist Church and Fridays nights at Pantano Christian.
• Tucson: Single Parent Support Group Tuesday nights at 7 PM. Call Evelyn: 878-1101.
• Tucson: Tucson Association of Evangelicals: January 12, 2006, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. For information call: 520-721-0800
• Read Jeff’s articles each month in the Good News. Go to to www.goodnewstucson.com

To schedule the Parziale's for a seminar or for updates on Instep events or resources, call us toll free at 1-888-5INSTEP or see our website: www.instepministries.com.

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