Looking back over the years, I can truly say that I have been blessed, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa of the Seventh-day Adventists Church.

I am blessed with a loving and caring family who has always been there for me. I am blessed to be associated with so many wonderful people whom God has brought into my life over the years.

But there are times where we can be rather forgetful. I say this because there are times, I often forget how blessed I am. I forget how fortunate I am to have such amazing people in my life. And I forget that I didn’t do anything to deserve the blessings that I’ve received from God.

I believe this is something that many of us do. We tend to look at our lives and see what we are missing, instead of what we have. We tend to look so far down the track, that we miss the blessings that are right in front of us. Instead of being thankful for what we have, we long for what we do not have.

One of our biggest challenges as humans is that we are never satisfied. We always want more. Perhaps it is more money, perhaps more power or influence, perhaps a bigger house or a more ‘normal' family. There are lots of things we want in life, lots of things that we desire, which unfortunately keeps our focus on what we do not have, instead of what we have.

And of course, this misguided focus for the things we do not have, is often the very thing that hurts and destroys ourselves and our relationships. A good example of this is a story found in the book of Genesis. Adam and Eve had everything anyone could have wanted. They had each other, they had a garden full of fruits and vegetables, they were the rulers of all “…the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground,” (1:28) and they also had a very intimate relationship with God.

For Adam and Eve, that wasn’t good enough.

Here’s what the Genesis account says, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground’.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. (Genesis 1:28-30 NIV)

Though God gave all that they needed they were still not satisfied. Maybe because they hadn’t fulfilled all of their dreams. They wanted more … instead of looking at the beautiful garden, and how blessed their lives were, they wanted something they couldn’t have – the forbidden fruit. And they pursued that desire, just like many of us pursue desires that may not be beneficial to ourselves or to our families, and in doing so they lost nearly everything.

By focusing on their desires, instead of their relationship with God, they pretty much destroyed it. By focusing on their desires, instead of the blessing of their home, the Garden of Eden, they lost it. By focusing on their desires, the first recorded ‘blame’ entered their relationship.

Here’s Ecclesiastes contribution to this, “Being satisfied with what you have is better than always wanting more. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.” (6:9)

Christmas is an opportunity to be thankful for what we have. It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on the blessings we have received, and not the ones we haven’t. Christmas isn’t so much about giving gifts but acknowledging the gifts we have been given.

Christmas is a time for us to cherish the blessings and gifts God has given us. To cherish the wonderful salvation provided to us through His son Jesus Christ, to cherish our personal relationship with Him, to cherish our families and friends, and to cherish the many other blessings we have received.

This Christmas, ask yourself, “What blessings have I been given,” and then ask yourself, “How can I cherish them, and show that I am thankful for them?”

Have an enjoyable Christmas and New Year with your families and friends. Keep safe, stay blessed, but most of all, be encouraged!