Certainly it is the sights and aromas that define and describe this particular time of year. For some this is snow and Christmas trees (fake and real) and for others it is warm sun and decorating indigenous shrubs. All important but all not really the point. A delight, without question, but still extraneous to the point of the day.
We hear greetings of Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays resounding from most. Yes, there are the humbug people, a kind of ‘pride’ of Grinchdom. Why anyone would purposely feel and spread sadness or grumpiness is hard to fathom. They seem to focus only on the extremes of ‘commercialism’, the lines of rude people and/or slow cashiers, or other such negatives. Why? What is gained by this attitude or behavior? Right. Nothing except complaining. I’ve always wondered why, knowing that people are out and shopping, would they chance going out and having to ‘endure’ this situation?
All that aside, it is still focusing on the wrong, incorrect. At the same time that we have the Scrooges and Grinches we also have those who know that the reason for the season is the Lord and celebrating His arrival for mankind. And these people are joyous about sharing this wonderful gift in all sorts of ways – not just gifts.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government
will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful,
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
“Now there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields,
keeping watch over their sheep by night. And behold, an angel of the
Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about
them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel of the Lord said to
them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tiding of great joy
which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city
of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2;8-11)
This is the Good News. We are saved. This is what Christmas should be for all of us. Remembering that this was the start of a new covenant, a new relationship for those who choose to follow Jesus as Lord. And we should be so overjoyed that we cannot help ourselves from sharing with everyone this wondrous gift of new life.
