This time just short of two weeks before Christmas can be stressful for some, hopeless for some, joyful for many. The 'OFFICIAL KICK-OFF"for the season is, of course, Black Friday which is now on Thanksgiving Thursday. Perfect.
There was a time when gift-giving on Christmas was a time to indulge your kids, sure. Mom and Dad would get each other a little something, plus each of the parents would give the kids some money to buy something for the other parent. A boxed shirt and tie set, maybe some Hai Karate after shave, a boxed Windsong perfume and powder gift box, maybe a pin or brooch.
Christmas Eve was a night for church; my dad ONLY went to church on Christmas Eve. Even when he died his funeral was at the funeral home and not in a church. Mom and sis went regularly (to church not the funeral home); I was more like my dad then.
Christmas morning was a magical time when stuff appeared out of nowhere for us. Stockings had a few coins, an apple or orange, a candy bar. There was new underwear, new shirts and pants and of course wonderful toys. One year a race-car set, one year a Lionel Train, clock-radios (Imagine! A radio with a clock in it!) every year had the big gift and then basically new clothes to wear to school. (Jerry Seinfeld talks about Chanukkah and receiving little gifts for eight days, a pen, some pencils, a notebook, basically a back-to-school holiday).
We have really created a "Sport of Christmas" where we rush for the new electronics, toys, styles, fashions, for some folks cars with giant bows in the driveway, trips to St. Moritz and more. It seems many of us are trying to win at Christmas.
The gift part of Christmas is modeled after the Three Wise Men (Magi or Magicians) who visited Jesus, Mary and Joseph about 1-2 years after his birth, following the star that appeared the night of his birth. They brought Him gifts that they would bring a king, expensive spices, incense and gold, none of which the young family could have ever afforded.
It sounds old-fashioned and out-of-style to ask people to remember the birth of Jesus the savior at least for a moment or two on Christmas day. Sure, be with your family, rally around the tree and open your gifts, have a nice dinner. As you celebrate Christmas, though, perhaps you can offer wonderful gifts to those who could never have afforded them, either through an organization or adopting a needy family.
As you celebrate Christmas remember this true story of a baby born in a stable; a child born to a young woman who would say, "I am the Lord's handmaiden, let it be as you have said" when told she would become pregnant by the Holy spirit and give birth to this son, Jesus, the Christ, Emmanuel.
This child grew into manhood and would live a sinless life; never did anything wrong. He was God in the flesh; He came to show people God's love and His reality to those who would listen. Then He took God's punishment for sin upon himself, that anyone who believes in Him would avoid that punishment and be able to stand in the Presence of God one day.
As you celebrate Christmas and this Holiday Season remember the birth of the One who will return one day, when there won't be anymore war; even sorrow and weeping will be gone. We have this time of our lives to accept or reject this child this savior. God gave us free will; He allows us the option to choose. He loves us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to die once for all for the forgiveness of sins. This Christmas rejoice in the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Savior of the World. What joy we should have that God loves us so much...just because. Christmas is a great time to renew a belief (maybe look into it for the first time) and feel God's great love for you personally and everyone else in the world, too. Merry CHRISTmas.
