I have seen so many people post this recently, and it has made me ponder the reason we celebrate Christmas. While some have argued that it is a pagan holiday, built around the winter solstice and including many of their traditions, I have concluded that this is a holiday of remembrance. It doesn't matter that it may not be the correct date. Just as God requires his people to remember him with Yom Kippur and the Passover, we remember the birth of Christ. This is a good thing and it brings the message to so many that may not otherwise hear it today.
But what do we remember? I remember picking out the perfect Christmas tree at the lot up the street. I remember the smell of the tree when we brought it in the house. I remember making ornaments using melted crayons. I remember all of the Christmas cookies that my Grandma King made - and I remember Grandpa King trying to find those cookies! I remember caroling and hot chocolate. I remember waking up to a new puppy on Christmas morning - and the train set that my brother got that went around the tree. I remember hanging our stockings and being so anxious to see what was in them the next morning. I remember food, family, and lots of music. Gene Autry has woken us up many a Christmas morning! ..... and I remember rushing to get to church on Christmas Eve, hoping the service would not be any more than an hour so that we could get back home to finish getting ready for the children's surprises the next morning.
Where in all of these memories is Christ? Yes, we sing about him in some of the carols. We tell the Christmas story in church. We fight to make sure the nativity scene can be displayed in town. We even sing happy birthday to him on Christmas day..... and then, we go back to our food, gifts, and busy schedules.
If Christ were truly in Christmas, we would use the money we spent on gifts for our family and friends to buy food and coats for the homeless. We would visit the hospitals and prisons. I am not talking about a visit with your scout group or choir - I mean on Christmas morning! We would give gifts like the shepherds, spending their time in worship to the newborn king. Or we would give gifts like the wise men, giving our best and most expensive treasures to God, and not to each other. If Christ were truly in Christmas we would do as he commanded and take care of the least of these - and we would all share the gospel, not just wait for the pastor to do it in the Christmas Eve service.
I do love those Christmas traditions, though! I must admit that I don't know that I can give up a cozy Christmas day, curled up with a new book and eating Christmas cookies, in order to go serve others. This is a hard thing..... I have to go now, the cookies need to come out of the oven!
