Do you know why we hang Christmas stockings on fireplace mantels? The custom originates with St. Nicholas (born A.D. 280 in modern-day Turkey), the original Santa Claus. He was a wealthy Christian priest who left gifts at the homes of needy people. Tradition says that Nicholas once heard about a poor man who had no money to give his three daughters for their wedding day. To help them, he dropped bags of gold into stockings they had left to dry by the fire. Ever since, we hang stockings by the fireplace on Christmas Even for Santa to fill.

Even God cannot give us presents we are unwilling to receive. Would you receive His gift of eternal life today?