So, recently I haven't really had much to say. Okay, I take that back, I always have something to say but nothing lately that is blog worthy or anything I am able to put into words. So many times the thoughts come but somehow are unable to make the leap from mind to fingers to page, but in honor of the Christmas spirit and the fact that this blogs title contains the word "christmas" I am making an effort at blogging before the holiday is actually here.
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| Christmas tradition of ornaments on ears |
This Christmas has been one that hasn't really been stressful for me because of this nice little thing called the internet. I'm not a fan of shopping except at outdoor stores like Rock Creek, Bass Pro Shops, etc. Since everything was bought online and there's no stress about Christmas shopping, it has given me a chance to think about the meaning of Christmas and to notice what's going on around me instead of focusing on completing shopping. This evening I went shopping with Wesley and it hit me. All the hustle and bustle but no one really focuses on the meaning of Christmas. Materialism... I'm so tired of seeing it pop into my life, yet I feed into it every Christmas and somehow it overwhelms what Christmas really means. My family is the greatest but we have way to many presents. This is nice but way overdone. Lovely, but unnecessary. Don't get me wrong I love Christmas and it's definitely my favorite holiday with all the colorful artsy lights, decorated trees, crisp cold weather, wassail, holiday cheer etc. There's nothing wrong with buying presents and seeing the joy of the person who opens them. I love that. It's truly a time when traditions and family mean the most to me but somehow over the years I have lost the true meaning. Of course I know what it means but I haven't taken it in deep inside my heart, internalized it and then let its influence play out in my life.
The true, precious meaning of Christmas where the best gift was given to this earth in the small vernix covered, bloody baby package sent to us by God himself. A true sacrifice for a perfect Father to send an innocent little baby into a sin filled world that would reject Him and even turn his birthday into a materialistic mess where, by most people, He would be forgotten. His sinless life always an example for those who listen. I also think of Mary, what a heavy burden it must have been to be labelled by her community as an adulteress. We believe now but certainly those around her wouldn't believe. Would you believe the story if it happened today? It's a pretty crazy story. To her though it was worth all the ridicule and torture just to carry the Son of God. What an immense privilege to be carrying our Gift. Would I be willing to stand up against all odds to carry such a Gift? Am I willing now to stand up for what I believe about Christ, His birth/soon coming and not let the influence and ridicule of the world around penetrate through to my core? What if I missed out on the best gift ever? The gift of seeing God face to face, visiting with Him in a perfect world where babies don't die, little girls aren't sold as slaves, where cancer doesn't eat the body from the inside out. What if I missed out? The thought brings tears to my eyes. Worse yet what if the precious Gift that God sent hadn't won the victory and the entire world was lost forever into Satan's grinchy hands. See what Christmas is about? Jesus won the victory and as a gift we get eternity. Is there any better gift than that? Nope.
The true, precious meaning of Christmas where the best gift was given to this earth in the small vernix covered, bloody baby package sent to us by God himself. A true sacrifice for a perfect Father to send an innocent little baby into a sin filled world that would reject Him and even turn his birthday into a materialistic mess where, by most people, He would be forgotten. His sinless life always an example for those who listen. I also think of Mary, what a heavy burden it must have been to be labelled by her community as an adulteress. We believe now but certainly those around her wouldn't believe. Would you believe the story if it happened today? It's a pretty crazy story. To her though it was worth all the ridicule and torture just to carry the Son of God. What an immense privilege to be carrying our Gift. Would I be willing to stand up against all odds to carry such a Gift? Am I willing now to stand up for what I believe about Christ, His birth/soon coming and not let the influence and ridicule of the world around penetrate through to my core? What if I missed out on the best gift ever? The gift of seeing God face to face, visiting with Him in a perfect world where babies don't die, little girls aren't sold as slaves, where cancer doesn't eat the body from the inside out. What if I missed out? The thought brings tears to my eyes. Worse yet what if the precious Gift that God sent hadn't won the victory and the entire world was lost forever into Satan's grinchy hands. See what Christmas is about? Jesus won the victory and as a gift we get eternity. Is there any better gift than that? Nope.
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