As many of us do at times I was reminiscing about Christmas seasons in my childhood and one thing I clearly remember was the year I bought my mom glass tumblers for Christmas.

I cannot even remember where I got the money from except for the fact I might have received an allowance as child ranging from 25 to 50 cents a week and had found some coins on the street.

Nonetheless, as the season drew near, I had scrimped and saved something like six or seven dollars to purchase the glassware. It took a little effort, but I did it. Of course I got something for dad and my big sister (I think I got something for her), but I sure do not remember what it was.

Mom seemed to be pleased with the tumblers but, thinking back, she was probably more pleased I had thought of her and the others in the family. We already had a number of tumblers.

Why the glass tumblers come to mind I am not exactly sure. Perhaps I remember trying hard to scrimp together the cash and make the purchase before Christmas. And though we probably had ample glassware, to me it was a special way to show my love. It was worth the effort, especially when I saw the smile on mom's face.

Thinking about the effort to get a gift before the deadline of Christmas in a way makes me think of the tremendous effort that God has made to bring mankind back to Him after Adam fell into sin.

Both the law of Moses and the Prophets fully indicated that God Himself would make that effort by veiling Himself in our frail flesh as the Messiah and being tempted at all points such as we are.

And so, from the time of His conception to His ascension the life of Jesus Christ was a complete sacrifice, and the greatest effort of the love and mercy of God.

God had seen that man was hopelessly lost in sin, so the Father sent the Son to be that new life, that fresh start, for all of us. As recorded in Philippians 2, the Son chose to act in human life as man and not God to create the good works that we need to please the heavenly Father.

So it is written in Hebrews 5:8-9, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect (complete), he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."

None of us can fully comprehend the actual and full effort of the Son in redeeming mankind, but one thing we can do is to fully commit to Him as King and choose to obey Him. In so doing, there will be great rejoicing in heaven, and within ourselves.