Life to the full: the hidden treasures of Christmas

By Rev Sue Ellis
Uniting Church SA Moderator

Posted Dec 23, 2016 in Faith

For many years, I was a sole parent of four children. Times were hard; we were poor. During this time, I can remember coming across the scripture John 10:10 in the Bible study group I attended:

“I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly.”

I found this idea difficult to apply to my own life, which hardly felt abundant. It was difficult to feel as though my life was abundant when I found myself having to pay bills in instalments. It didn’t feel abundant when the only meal we were able to eat out as a family was the annual basketball dinner at the local hotel. And it certainly didn’t feel abundant when the refrigerator was empty and I had hungry children to feed.

I prayed for what I thought of as the abundant life – for more money, more things for my children, more happiness.

One day, I came across the scripture again, in a different translation – the same translation that we’ve used on the Uniting Church SA Christmas postcards this year:

“I have come that you might have life to the full.”

I laughed as I read it – my life sure was full!

Here I was, rearing four children on my own, deeply involved with my local community – with the church, the high school and primary schools. I was the communications officer for the local Country Fire Service, the secretary for neighbourhood watch, a leader in two sporting organisations, and was involved in several other church and community organisations. In addition to all this, I was working as a relief teacher to earn money. It struck me that I was living life to the full because there was never a spare minute!

I then realised how much I loved being involved in my children’s activities, and how serving in my church and community gave my life purpose and value. I was living the life, and it was good. It was like discovering a hidden treasure about the meaning of life to the full. 

Often at Christmas, we try to stuff so much into our stockings to make life seem full. Church, school and community events, shopping, present-wrapping, and baking are all activities that vie for our time and attention.

Can we discover the little treasure, hidden away in the bottom of the stocking, which offers life to the full? The little treasure, hidden away in the back shed of a country town pub, that made angels sing for joy, filled shepherds’ hearts with hope, brought peace to wise scholars from afar, and who filled his parent’s lives with love.

This treasure is Jesus, who offers us life to the full every day and in the best possible way.

May His love fill you with abundant life.

This article was originally published on page 4 of the December 2016 / January 2017 print edition of New Times.

Rev Sue Ellis has also provided a video Christmas message, which is available to stream or download here. A transcript of the message is available here.

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