as i reflect on what Christmas truly means, and how we celebrate the greatest gift given to us of all, i was sent this lovely poem...  not sure who the author is...

 The Christmas Gift

Born this night a world of sin,
The Prince of Peace the Redeemer of Men.
This child of God, that was sent from on High.
To be born of Mary to suffer and die!

Rejected by men from the day of His birth;
To suffer and die on Calvary's tree.
For the sins of the world to set me free.
From Bethlehem to Golgotha, he never complained
Laughed at! Spit on! Mocked in shame!

He was born of a women, but He knew no sin,
This babe in the Manger the Savior of Men!

wow.  God came down from heaven as a little baby, suffered as we will never know, all to bring us closer to Him.  that is truly the greatest gift i will ever receive.  eternal life, just waiting for me to reach out and grab it.