It’s Christmas

It’s Christmas. Slow down. Celebrate. It’s a beautiful season. Some would even say it is magical. Enjoy it.

Often Christmas comes with a lot of expectations and demands. In addition to all the gatherings we want to attend are all the functions we are expected to attend. With all the things to decorate, goodies to bake, people to visit, things to shop for, gifts to wrap and cards to send, the to-do list seems to extend forever. Suddenly, it’s overwhelming and exhausting.

For some, the season is hard. Whatever challenges we face, seem more burdensome at Christmastime. Illnesses, absence of loved ones, and financial struggles all seem heavier in December.

Then there are the mental pictures we carry. Childhood memories, Christmas movies, and cultural images all conjure up expectations of what Christmas could or should be.

Wait. Let’s take a breath. In the midst of whatever expectations, disappointments, or busy-ness are part of our experience, let’s remember why we celebrate.

“Jesus is the reason for the season,” is not just a catchy slogan. We celebrate His birth because His birth, death, and resurrection changed everything. Don’t miss it.

 

Jesus came to save us from our sins. He brought light and hope into a dark and hopeless world. He came so we could know God–Emmanuel, God with us. He came so the sin that broke our world and separates us from God could be forgiven. He came so we could know truth and grace. He came so we could experience joy and peace. He came with the promise of one day eternally righting all that has ever gone wrong.

Life isn’t perfect and trouble-free for anyone. The challenges and frustrations bear different names, but they are real. They don’t disappear with a turn of the calendar. Sometimes the turn of the calendar adds challenges. But when we focus our attention on our Savior, we can believe the troubles of this life are light and momentary (1 Corinthians 4:17, Romans 8:18). In the words of an old hymn, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.”

It’s okay not to do everything. It is okay to eliminate some of the demands, whether self-imposed or imposed by others. Enjoy the gatherings with family and friends. Enjoy your favorite traditions. Enjoy a quiet moment with a cup of cocoa. Listen– really listen–to some Christmas music.

It’s not okay to miss what really matters. In the midst of the celebrating, remember. In the midst of busy-ness, expectations, or even heartache, remember. Remember the One who is, and was and is to come. It’s Christmas. Remember Jesus.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.   Isaiah 9:6 NIV

 

It’s Christmas. How will you remember Jesus? Please leave a comment below.

Blessings,
Phyllis

Copyright 2024 Phyllis L. Farringer

Image by Bianca Van Dijk from Pixabay