Christmas

Let's all try to enjoy Christmas despite the lack of snow on the ground (if you're in Iowa, anyway). As we hustle and bustle about, trying to shop for our loved ones (or maybe you're responsible and have already accomplished this goal), let's not be afraid to put some money in the Salvation Army bucket. An extra $5 on top of the hundreds of dollars we spent on our family and friends probably won't make us miss rent. Here's something interesting I've noticed this Christmas season: I've seen the traditional "Secret Santa" replaced with some other secret thing for two very opposite reasons. To one group of people, Santa represented Christmas (unfortunate in its own right), and the potential to offend people who didn't celebrate Christmas must have seemed too great; they opted for "Secret Snowflakes." The other group believed that Santa absolutely did not represent Christmas, and chose "Secret Angels (which unfortunately loses its beautiful alliteration)."

Every year, Christmas offers the opportunity to rejoice at the birth of our Savior and wonder at the glory of His arrival to Earth. Every year, we see commercials about the amazing sales at every department and retail store. This subtle layer, in addition to the political correctness front, is advancing the war on Christmas. At a young age, we learn that Christmas is about receiving gifts. As we grow, we are tricked into believing that the season is, in fact, about giving. But the mark is still missed. It might be possible to buy love from our friends and family, but we cannot earn the favor of our Lord. His coming (and more importantly, His dying) is a gift we never deserved and can never repay.

Let's never forget the glorious story of His coming. Picture yourself as Mary, a virgin. You are told by an angel that you will conceive a child from the Holy Spirit. A little confusing, right? Virgins can't have babies. But the angel Gabriel explained to Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and be with child. So Mary rejoiced. She would faithfully and humbly carry out God's plan. Luke 1:26-38

Now pretend you're Joseph. You're going to marry Mary (that's kind of funny, isn't it?). You haven't laid with her (let's stick to Biblical language), but she is pregnant. This is grounds for divorce, and you mean to, but an angel appears to you in a dream and tells you who this Child is, where He comes from, and that you should stay with Mary. And because of your faith, you do. Matthew 1:18-25 All this is to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah.

Can you imagine a more humble beginning than being born in a barn? Such was the entrance of God into this world. Word spreads, and people come to see this Child, bringing praise and gifts.....to a baby. Gifts fit for a king, for that is what they understand Him to be. They seek to spread the word to all who will hear and glorify  His name. Luke 2:1-20

I'm trying to remind myself that snow is a blessing for Christmas, not a necessity. Other blessings include food, friends, gifts, even family. None of these things are what the season of Christmas is about. Christmas exists for one reason: the Son of God who was to die for our sins came to dwell among us. As we open gifts, share laughs, and appreciate food, let's give thanks to the people who gave, socialized, and provided. But more importantly, let's give thanks to Jesus for coming into our world and preparing for what He came to do. As corny and overused as the phrase is, "He is the reason for the season." God bless and have a Merry Christmas!