The funny thing is that I have not really had the chance to let Christmas sink into and invade my heart and soul this time around. I have been so busy with my first semester of college (we didn't get out until the 18th) and worrying about a multitude of different things that I forgot to reflect on what Christmas means and how much it truly means to me, personally.
I have always had fantastic Christmases. When I was really little, we used to go down to Florida and spend Christmas with my grandparents down there. I never even knew what a white Christmas was. Then, when I was around 8 years old, they moved up to Tennessee, and so came my Aunt and Uncle when I was probably 12-14. Now, we spend Christmas Eve at my family's house and we exchange gifts with our extended family members. The next morning, we get up and open gifts from our immediate family, and oh how I cherish those Christmas mornings. We gather around a fire (which will not be necessary for our 70 degree Christmas this year), eat breakfast, read the story of our ultimate gift from God, and watch each other open the gifts we have selected. I feel like I imagine Mary felt when the Bible says, in Luke 2:19, "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." I treasure every single Christmas and think of them often. I adore the memories that have been made around Christmas trees, around fires, and around the beautiful, old Bible that sits on the table in my grandparents living room.
Between last year's Christmas and this year's Christmas, I can hardly recognize the person I am, because the past year has been filled with valleys, mountaintops, and much personal growth. This past year has seemed like a roller coaster, but the past few days, I have been able to focus on just what this past year was like. In the past 365 days, I finished my last semester of high school, graduated with honors, went to Nicaragua, started college, made lots of friends, finished my first semester of college with all A's and B's, and so much more. This year has made me realize things about myself and has made me even more grateful that there is a time of year when we all come together to enjoy God's blessings and the wonderful gift of His son.
There is a part in the song "O Holy Night" that says, "Long lay the world in sin and error pining til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." We are back at that place. We are laying in sin and error. Our world continues to go downhill. What Christians fail to see is that, even if Merry Christmas is no longer politically correct, God is still on His sovereign throne watching over every single one of us. This Christmas, instead of reflecting on the bad, let us focus on the thrill of hope and the glorious morn that is breaking. Let us help others to find that hope as well. This world needs hope more than anything else. We, as Christians, should be the ones sharing that hope with others and Christmastime is the perfect time to do it. The chorus of the song goes like this: "Fall on your knees. O hear the angel voices. O night divine, o night when Christ was born." Focus on the Lord this Christmas. Focus on how Jesus, equal with God, became nothing and became Immanuel, God with us. He did not leave us in our sin, but provided and escape. Before you tear into your gifts or complain about what a mess this world is, take time to thank God for the real reason we celebrate Christmas, the perfect, holy gift of His son.
There is a part in the song "O Holy Night" that says, "Long lay the world in sin and error pining til He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." We are back at that place. We are laying in sin and error. Our world continues to go downhill. What Christians fail to see is that, even if Merry Christmas is no longer politically correct, God is still on His sovereign throne watching over every single one of us. This Christmas, instead of reflecting on the bad, let us focus on the thrill of hope and the glorious morn that is breaking. Let us help others to find that hope as well. This world needs hope more than anything else. We, as Christians, should be the ones sharing that hope with others and Christmastime is the perfect time to do it. The chorus of the song goes like this: "Fall on your knees. O hear the angel voices. O night divine, o night when Christ was born." Focus on the Lord this Christmas. Focus on how Jesus, equal with God, became nothing and became Immanuel, God with us. He did not leave us in our sin, but provided and escape. Before you tear into your gifts or complain about what a mess this world is, take time to thank God for the real reason we celebrate Christmas, the perfect, holy gift of His son.
