If ever there was a word that created nearly instantaneous warm feelings it’s the word, ‘holiday’. It can conjure up all sorts of reactions, mostly positive. The word evokes a change from the normal everyday activities and a great deal of joy. Often the word is related to thoughts of great food and in great quantities. Actually… the more I think about it, the more I find it difficult to think of any negative reactions to the word.
However… often the reason for the holiday is lost in the process. And with some of the holidays, the world has commercialized it nearly into greed. Probably the one with the greatest examples is what’s happened to Christmas. But look at Thanksgiving. How much of your activity is devoted to thinking about, sharing those people and things you are grateful for versus thinking about the whether or not all the items for the feast will be ready at the same time?
To me, Christmas is the greatest holiday because it starts the salvation of mankind. Without Christmas there is no Easter and without Easter there is no salvation. And Jesus really is the reason for the season because if He hadn’t been willing to be our propitiation we would be eternally lost. Sometimes we act as if He had no involvement in our creation and salvation. Because mankind needed a savior to re-establish the relationship between the Father and His creation.
Yes, I enjoy the hustle and bustle – the excitement in children’s eyes and the mischief smile in the eyes of parents. Yes, I love all the decoration and food that’s associated with the season. Yes, I love buying presents for those I love and remembering the joys of Christmases past. But… it is the inexpressible joy of knowing that I have been saved that is the biggest present of all.
