Christmas Message

Dear Parents,

As we near Christmas, it can become very easy to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. At church and at Briarcrest we are constantly reminded of what Christmas is about, the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. However, many times we still go about our everyday business of buying gifts and making out our own wish list.

The other day I received a true reality shock in the mail. As I was walking back up my driveway from my mailbox, I stood looking at two Christmas catalogs that could not have stood in a starker contrast. In one hand, I held a catalog for a moderately expensive gift company. These gifts are beautiful gifts of jewelry and art, and I have used this company many times to purchase special gifts for my wife. However, in the other hand, I held a catalog from World Vision, a non-profit organization in which our family sponsors a child in Africa. In the World Vision catalog, one could purchase a milking cow for a family or a package of farm animals for a family. The price of the gifts were amazing, $100 would buy a cow for a family or $250 would buy a few chickens, a pig, and a goat for a family. To look at the two catalogs and realize that I could have bought my wife a nice piece of jewelry for $100, or I could supply a poor and needy family with milk everyday for the same price astounded me. I stood there and thought about how mixed up our priorities can be many times. I also stood there amazed and blessed at what the Lord had given to me and my family. I often ask God, "Why did you allow me to be born in this wonderful country? Why have you blessed me with three wonderfully healthy children? Why am I able to send my children to a school such as Briarcrest?" I have yet to figure out why God choose to bless my family and me in this way, but I do know that since I have been blessed in this way, it is important for me to do something with this blessing.

As we look at this Christmas season, I hope that we can all put things in perspective. Let's find ways to teach our children that giving is far more important than receiving. The blessing of taking gifts to a needy family, or taking a Christmas meal to someone will leave a far more indelible impression in our hearts and the hearts of our children than any new video game or Christmas present that we receive. I pray that you all have a wonderful Christmas and are truly blessed during this marvelous time while we celebrate Christ's birth. Merry Christmas!

Dr. Bryan Williams