by the Rev Mike Cansdale, Team Rector, Parish of Keighley

IF you ask people what they like best about Christmas, I suspect that one of the top answers would be "the presents": the surprise of the unexpected gift, the delight of just the right toy, the long-awaited special something.

And if you ask others what they dread most about Christmas, I suspect that one of the top answers would again be "the presents": the unbearable weight of expectation, the fear of disappointment and the burden of debt.

For me the best thing about Christmas is not the presents, but the presence – the presence of God entering human history in the form of a child. At Christmas Christians celebrate that God is not far away, watching us ‘from a distance’ but right here among us.

Jesus Christ, God in human form, entered our history not to demand obedience and royal treatment, but to introduce us to God our loving heavenly father who made us, knows us and loves us. Jesus reached out to all he met but in the end he was rejected, betrayed, deserted, humiliated and tortured and finally abandoned to die.

The Bible tells us he did this to show to us God’s amazing love and forgiveness. This 'presence' of Jesus was priceless and says to us whatever we may be going through, Jesus understands and offers us a way through. It’s a gift offered to every one of us but one that often is left un-opened.

Since I accepted God’s special gift to me I’ve known an amazing love, joy and peace from Jesus in my home, my family and my everyday life. This Christmas may you recognise the presence of God with you and may the love of Christ, born anew, keep your hearts in joy and peace.