Hello again. I wanted to share my thoughts for this Christmas season. Over the years I’ve heard lots of friends tell me they were no longer celebrating Christmas because it was a pagan holiday. Others said they love celebrating Christmas because it’s the time of season where people are more receptive into going to church, when other times they would not. Then there are others that write Christmas letters and notes saying, “Be sure to keep Christ in Christmas.”
As I was thinking of all these views, I decided to ponder on this question, “How do we keep Christ in Christmas?” Think about it… what is your answer? I asked a few ladies I met with yesterday, and they said things like, “We go to the shelters and help feed the homeless.” Others said, “I play Christmas music talking about Jesus.” Others said, “We teach our children that giving is better than receiving.” These are all the typical answers, and rightfully so.
So I asked my husband this same question, “How do we keep Christ in Christmas?” He said, “Like any other day.” I was thinking of the things we do at Christmas time, and realized that we are to be doing those things all year long. Feeding and clothing the poor, giving over receiving, etc., so those weren’t the answers I was looking for. Tom, my husband, hit it on the head. Because I was trying to “put Christ in Christmas” yet, He was already there! He is with me every single minute of every single day, and no more than on Christmas day! Sure, we make a fun breakfast, visit with family we haven’t seen since the previous Christmas, and it does seem that people are more receptive this time of year, but we are to live like this every day. Family needs to be as important on Christmas as in July. Feeding and clothing the poor can also be done on a Wednesday in the middle of Spring. We can visit prisoners in prison, and visit the orphans every day of the week.
Christmas day to me is to reflect on what God has done for us. It’s to take a moment out of our busy “year” to commemorate the birth of Jesus. And by the way, I get people telling me that they don’t celebrate his birth because it doesn’t say to do that in the Bible. Why are we so “religious?” Can’t we just enjoy knowing Jesus was born to a virgin? Isn’t that something to celebrate and acknowledge? Do we acknowledge our own birthdays? Why not Jesus? Anyway… I’ll get off my soapbox… and say… Let’s just keep Christ the center of our lives EVERYDAY… and when Christmas comes along, it’s a time to look back over the year to see all that the Lord has done for you, and what you have for Him..
It’s not to bring you into any guilt or condemnation, but to help us see what we can change for the following year.
My family prays that your family have a blessed love filled Christmas, as you continue into the New Year with all His blessings.
