Since I became a pastor for Hanmaum church, I wrote similar messages in the pastor’s column around this time of the year, yet I am writing it again this year as a reminder for those who are newcomers to our church. You all know by now that during the Christmas or Thanksgiving season, I tend to get ahead of myself and worry that I may receive too many gifts not knowing for certain that anyone even has plans to give some at all.
In the Christmas or Thanksgiving season, we cannot escape from the thought of gift-giving. So, I tell you this in advance. Please exclude from your shopping list any gift you are planning for my family. I am fully content with the love you have already poured on my family. Maybe I am counting chickens too soon before they are hatched. In Korea, we have a similar idiom, ”Drinking Kimchi soup even before someone thinks about giving rice cake to you (in Korea, Kimchi soup traditionally supplements rice cake). This is why the title of this message is ”Kimchi Soup”. You may ask, ”How about your kids? Why do they need to get disappointed?” Please don’t worry about them. They receive enough gifts from their grandparents. I want my kids who are used to receiving things to be content with what they have already received and turn their attention to others around them so they can give. I already told them about this news. They were cool with it and happily accepted the proposition.
Satisfying kids with gifts is not easy nowadays. The gifts we chose do not rank at the top of their wishlist. The expectations are usually higher. So I want to steer them in the right direction. I want to teach the joy of giving to the kids who take receiving gifts for granted. I want to teach kids who are not satisfied to be thankful for what they have. I want to show them that the value of the gift is not in its size. I hope we live such a life as well so that we have extra strength to push ourselves further to reach out to those who need our attention the most.
A gift is such a great thing. Especailly Christmas is the day we are receiving the greatest gift from Heaven. I believe that the spirit of Christmas is to share such a gift with others. I am thankful that Christmas is giving us such an opportunity. However, I am afraid that those who need the gifts most are out of our reach. If you have room in your shopping list after removing my family, please fill your list with those who need the Christmas gift the most.
As you have expected, it will be difficult for our family to give gifts to everyone in the church. ^^;; Instead, we will focus our attention on those who come across our minds during our prayers. I solicit your understanding.
I pray that the love of Christ will reach out to those who need it the most this Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. a
Following the shepherd…
Pastor Jiwon Choi