What do Christmas trees, snowmen, candy canes and mistletoe have in common? They are part of the traditions of Christmas. A favorite tradition of ours every year, is reading the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2 on Christmas morning before any gifts are opened. After that we have prayer together and thank God for our greatest gift.
We are thankful for the baby who was born in a manger over 2000 years ago. Who was this baby boy you ask? He was the Son of God sent to earth to be born of a virgin, in a body of flesh. We celebrate His birthday, this baby who came to be the Savior of the world. That is why we do not say Happy Holidays or Merry Xmas because that leaves Christ out of Christmas and without Christ there would be no CHRISTmas.
Too often though, we tend to get so busy this time of year that we leave Christ out of Christmas. We are too busy worrying about all the gifts we need to buy, how much we are going to spend, how to get all the decorations up and how to find time to get it all done!! Whew, it makes me tired just thinking of it all. We tend to leave out what Christmas should be all about—making sure Christ is honored and adored—after all it is His birthday we are supposed to be celebrating. Instead, we get caught up in all the hoopla and festivities and forget about the most precious gift that was ever given to mankind; this tiny Baby Boy who would one day die for our sins to make a way that we could spend eternity in heaven.
What about your calendar this year? Do you have time to make Christmas be about the real thing, or are you too busy to fit Him in? Are you so frazzled over finding the perfect gift for that picky family member, that you haven’t even stopped to remember that it should be about Jesus, since it is His birthday? My son told me this week that he did not know of one thing to tell me he wanted for Christmas. He said, ‘I guess I have everything I need’. I told him that was a true sign of being content with what we have. Don’t get caught up in the frenzy and forget about the real meaning of Christmas this year. Jesus is far more valuable than any material gift you could ever receive! Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to you!
