This is National Whiners Day.

Whoever made up this day probably did so because of so many people complaining about Christmas gifts. Besides the verbal complaints, this is one of the busiest days of the year for stores because of all the presents being returned or exchanged.

Gifts are supposed to be unexpected and undeserved—just given out of love. But the world tells us that we should expect to receive as much as we give. Advertisers would have us believe that we deserve to receive quality gifts. Then, when we don’t get exactly what we want, we often pout or whine.

The only way to break this bad habit and poor attitude is to remember God’s gift of Jesus and salvation. “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:9). Salvation is totally free, a gift (Romans 6:23). All we have to do is accept it.

That’s the most important gift of all. Anything else we receive from parents, friends, or anyone else is a bonus. So today, instead of being disappointed in your gifts and letting everyone know those feelings, adjust your attitude to gratitude. Rejoice in your greatest gift, and be thankful for the others too.

Be content.

Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth (1 Timothy 6:6).

To Do

Today, begin writing thank-you notes for all your Christmas gifts.

Also on this day

This is Boxing Day in Canada and Britain.

1927—The East-West Shrine college football bowl game featured numbers on both the front and back of players’ jerseys.

1982—The Man of the Year in Time Magazine was a computer. This was the first time a nonhuman received the honor.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.