Joy is a gift that comes as we make room for it in our lives.

Say Yes to the Gift of Christmas

Posted on by Michele Morin

“You can say ‘no,’” he said softly, in a whisper, so our son would not hear.
Immediately, my guard went up. It was Christmas time, so my planner was bulging its squares with lists of things to buy and to wrap and to bake.  What was my husband going to propose that required this ominous-sounding, front-loaded disclaimer?

Well, it turns out that there was this puppy . . .
A St. Bernard puppy – the dream puppy of my youngest son’s heart.

Could I really say ‘no’?
Well, sure, I could have, but how much cuteness would I have missed at the sight of a small boy’s head resting on a big dog’s sprawled body?  How much joy and laughter would have been absent each Christmas without Tucker’s howling descant that floats atop our family’s singing of seasonal carols?

It seems to me that many of life’s loveliest gifts come to us with a built-in refusal clause. I’ve identified three gifts God extends to those who are growing up in Christ, and I’m writing about them today over at Living By Design.

Of course, you can say no… but I hope you will trust for grace to unwrap each one in this Season of Yes!

Every blessing to Christmas to you!

It seems to me that many of life’s loveliest gifts come to us with a built-in refusal clause. I’ve identified three gifts God extends to those who are growing up in Christ, and I’m writing about them today over at @bydesignorg. Join me there?

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

45 thoughts on “Say Yes to the Gift of Christmas”

  2. Heading over to read the rest; and while I know you are meaning more than the Yes you said my answer would have been no! LOL. But my family would know better than to ask me about a dog/puppy anyway. My husband has been hinting it might be nice to get another cat and I find I can’t even say yes to that right now and they’re pretty simple pets.

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    1. They did a great job over there with the pictures, but I am sorry to say that none of them are of Tucker. When we got him, I was completely undigital, so there are no good pictures available for a puppy Tucker.
      Thanks for reading, Judy!

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  5. Michele, what a blessing this post was for me, all things I needed to hear TODAY! I love the idea of watching the sunrise each day throughout Advent!

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    1. I’m doing that again this year, and it’s such a centering practice. I have to take time to look out the window and say, “Yes… this is a new day. The light has arrived–and the LIGHT is here!”

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  6. Michele, how I loved this post! It seems these gifts coming in slowing down and being still enough to receive them. When we open our hearts to the Lord’s promptings, sometimes the most beautiful gifts are offered! I’ve been beach-walking at sunrise most days this month, and I always marvel at how different each sunrise is. I just can’t seem to stop marveling and snapping pictures. God knows how to gift us with His presence, doesn’t He?

    Have a wonderful Christmas, my friend.

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  7. I’m so very grateful for each of those gifts. I hope I’m living in yes to the stillness, guidance, and joy the Lord offers! Thanks for sharing Michele.

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  9. Saying yes to God (or to getting a puppy!) can definitely pave the way for unexpected blessings! I love how you identify practical steps we can take to receive the gifts God offers us this Christmas.

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  11. Can you say no… but why would you? 🙂 I love this so much.
    … side note – its feeding into our puppy fever. We have it BAD

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  13. I did say “yes” to reading the rest. Loved this, Michele! With so much advice (especially at this time of year) that it’s OK to say “no”, I appreciated this reminder that our God is a god of “YES!”

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  14. Dogs are a responsibility, yes, but they bring so much joy. That is true with many things in life. Thank you for linking up today and stay well.

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  15. Such a lovely post! We always have a choice and many people automatically say ‘No’ if that’s an option but they miss out on so much!

    I appreciate your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week! Thanks for joining us!

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  16. Saying yes at times as a parents is the best gift you can give your child. I said yes to my daughter going into the lake with her clothing on. I have the cutest photo of her seating on a rock and smiling. I said yes, to her wearing her swimsuit under her dress even on a cool day as we explored Barcelona because she knew we were going to the sea.

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  17. Michele, this was so good. We can say no to God’s good gifts. Or we can say yes. The choice is ours. He never forces us, demands us to accept, or gives us what we don’t want. We have a part to play in our receiving and accepting.

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  18. CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at the #FaithAndWorshipChristianWeekend 15, opened early for the weekend of Christmas and until December 28 at 12:05 am.

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  19. Darn it, Michele, I have been refusing my children’s requests for a puppy for their entire lifetime and now you are making me think otherwise! I don’t want a puppy though, so I will continue to implement at least that one refusal clause! But that’s not really the point of your post. You have once again brilliantly shared a lesson for all of us this holiday season! Thank you for linking with me. May your Christmas be filled with blessings!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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  20. Isn’t it amazing that God gives us the opportunity to say no? But we don’t do that much before learning that yes to him is really best. I love the emphasis on letting spiritual disciplines ground us rather than letting them be the first thing to go in busy times.

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  21. ********************************************************
    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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  22. ********************************************************
    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
    *********************************************************

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  24. Saying ‘yes’ is so important for accepting opportunities despite our fear of the unknown. Thanks for linking up with #dreamteamlinky

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