TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
GOOD EVENING TXK COLUMN BY BAILEY GRAVITT
D ecember is an odd month for a birthday. It’s a month all about holiday cheer, tangled lights, sugar highs, and, for me, a hearty dose of introspection. As I stood behind my “Happy Birthday, Jesus” sign (generously donated by SignMe Up), I could not help but laugh at how perfectly this little display sums up the shared celebration between me and, well, Jesus. Yes, I share a birthday month with Jesus. The Bible doesn’t mention the exact date, but December 25 has become the day the world has chosen to celebrate the birth of Christ. Whether or not it was actually December 25 does not really matter to me, because I believe it is the spirit behind every decision and action we take that matters. The important question should always be, what is the intention of our heart? That is what I feel Jesus cares about. Christmas isn’t about the date. It is about the love we give and the gratitude we feel. December is a month of reflection, a time to sit back and contemplate all that has happened over the past year. For me, my birthday is like a gift wrapped up under the Christmas tree with a nice, neat, pretty bow on top—a culmination of another trip around the sun, another year I’ve been blessed on this earth. As I blow out the candles on the blueberry muffins my mom makes for me every year on the 18th of December (our little birthday tradition), I realize I’m not just celebrating another year of my life. I am celebrating the many blessings that have come with it—a career in social media management, cherished family and friends, the talents God has bestowed upon me, and the opportunity to spread joy through these monthly articles in Texarkana Magazine , of course! Thinking over this season and my journey thus far, I find such a profound sense of peace and gratitude for Jesus’ journey, too. No matter his birth date, Jesus knew struggle, He knew perseverance, and He knew what it meant to be misunderstood. Knowing Jesus
lived a sinless life, despite experiencing every temptation, and subsequently took on the weight of the world so we could be redeemed, is humbling and awe-inspiring. And each Christmas, I feel an especially deep connection with that story. Recently, I had a deep conversation with my friend Kara Humphrey. She shared something that I’ll carry for the rest of my days—“The point of everything we do isn’t always about what we can get from the experience. Sometimes it’s just about what we can give or do for someone else.” Christmas, like Kara said, is a season for giving. When we check our attitude, it becomes a privilege to give of ourselves with intention, with love, and with joy. When I look at my own life, I can clearly see the treasure trove of “gifts” I’ve been given that did not come in boxes or bags. It is easy to let birthdays inflate our egos. We are showered with attention, love, and maybe indulge in a little too much partying. But as much as I love my birthday, I hope that as I celebrate, I remember to stand in awe and worship a God who is bigger than any gift and greater than any fleeting birthday wish. Yes, I want to be loved. And yes, I want to love back with everything I have got. But more than that, I want to be part of something that points beyond myself to a love so profound and so limitless that it reshapes my life year after year. To me, that is what Christmas does. It points me back to Jesus, reminding me He is making all things new, including me, in His time. The magic of Christmas can fade a little as we grow older and sometimes gives way to practicality, or even the pressures of adulthood. Boooorriingggg! Yet, even amid the trials and tribulations that each year brings, I remain so grateful for the reminder that despite my weaknesses and all my many mistakes, I am still loved deeply and fully. That doesn’t negate the seriousness of my sin in God’s eyes, but I am constantly and consistently being drawn to
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