God Speaks, I Listen

What Is Christmas about?
Why Was Jesus a carpenter?

Ok, I haven't posted here in a long while, but i was mowing today, and those two questions hit me like a ton of bricks. I realize that by some of my previous posts, you might not think I'm a very strong Christian, but in fact, I've been growing in the Lord quite a bit over the last year. Like All Christians, I'm a sinner, but like many (not all) Christians, I am also trying to align my life with that of Jesus Christ (even through sometims I feel more like it intersects more than parelells).
But back to the two questions... I was mowing as I said, and the first question came to me, What is Christmas about? I've often heard people say it "is more about giving than receiving", which to be honest, is a wonderful thought, and if you lived your life that way, you'd be heralded as a "great person". But it struck me that that is totally backwards in respect to Christmas. what gift can I give that is even close to the one Jesus gave. Christmas is not about giving, it's about receiving that wonderful (and at the same time sad) gift of Jesus Christ dying in the most horrible way of the time, so he could save me from damnation for all eternity. WOW. Makes even the biggest gifts you can think of seem like stocking stuffers at best.
Christmas is about receiving Jesus Christ, and his gift, so that you can live with God the Father for eternity. Giving gifts is a nice throught, but if you don;t receive the greatest gift even given to the world, than what is the point. I truly believe that I need start reinforcing that with everyone I know. How can you give your own children a WII, no mater how badly they want it, if you know they haven't accepted the one gift that will keep them from burning in the fires of Hell for all eternity. It's almost like if you had a terminal disease, and the cure was soemthing you could never afford, and you knew you were going to die. Then along comes someone who loved you so much they sacrificed all they had to buy you the cure. Then you took the cure, and said " Hey thanks, but I really appreciate that, but check out this cool new (insert item here)."
Netx post, I elaborate on the other question.