Friends in Christ,
Here it is December again! The years seem to be flying by faster the older I get. Just when I finally got used to following school buses again, Christmas music is being played in every store, shop, and restaurant I enter. We used to get the Christmas rush right after Thanksgiving, but now it’s Halloween that triggers the department store and municipal areas to dig out their wreathes, trees, blinking Rudolphs and light pole decorations. I don’t mind that so much; but it does serve as a constant reminder that there’s so much to do before the holidays. I still haven’t emptied the dishwasher from Thanksgiving!
As I marveled at the passage of time and commercialization of one of our most sacred and blessed holidays, I realized that that there are two very different types of celebrations. Some people see Christmas as a time to rush around, decorate the tree, buy presents, shop, cook, wrap presents, decorate and, on December 25th, open presents, collect all the wrapping presents in kitchen trash bags, cook, eat, and watch parades and football. My brothers and I used to go to the circus on Christmas afternoon (but I digress). On the other hand, there are folks who focus on our Lord and Savior as the cause for celebration. Advent calendars, Christmas hymns (“What Child is This?” is my personal favorite), charity and giving back, nativity scenes, and lighted crosses and stars are symbols that indicate an appreciation for what all the fuss is about. THIS is what Christmas celebrates. John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” So, think of the Gospels when you’re getting overwhelmed by shopping or cooking or just trying to check things off your never-ending to-do list. If you’re like me (and you are), the warmth and beauty of the holiday season will come flooding back as you acknowledge the real reason for the season. That is peace.
God’s Blessings and Merry Christmas!