I know this title sounds more like the November holiday than Christmas, but indulge me for a moment.

Most of us have found ourselves in that unenviable position at Christmas when someone has surprised us with a gift. Somewhat taken aback we confess, “Aw! But I didn’t get you anything!”

Warmed by our gratitude for the giver, we receive the gift blushing at their unrequited generosity.

Flipping those roles, most of us have also found ourselves in the similarly heartwarming position of giving that surprising gift to a friend or family member. But when they’ve also replied, “Aw! I didn’t get you anything!” we’re strangely satisfied, not because they now owe us anything, but because our original intent in giving the gift was the love we felt for them.

That kind of extravagance—living gratefully and generously—brings us joy because we are imitating the abundance God has lavished upon each of our lives.

All throughout Scripture, God is modeling generosity for God’s people, and then stepping back and watching prayerfully, hoping we’ve learned from the Master Giver!

Isn’t that what we emphasize during Advent—God’s ultimate gift of unconditional love through Jesus? And God’s example of holy imagination invites us to be the same kind reckless, selfless givers that God is!

C.S. Lewis reminds us of the origin of any generous ideas we might have: