What does Christmas mean?
“Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
(Luke 2:4-7)
What does Christmas mean to me?
I don’t take Christmas very seriously. It’s a bit of a sideline, but that’s okay because all the love is still here! But that’s not how I used to be. I had high expectation and hopes — sort of a romantic view of what Christmastime should be.
Where’s the Christmas spirit in that?
My dear husband, when he was alive, used to say, “Yes, sure, there’s Christmas spirit — but it’s not the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus was born for us and would die for us. Jesus is the “reason for the season”.
It wasn’t always easy to enjoy Christmas without the cultural aspects of the tree and the turkey & trimmings.
Year on year, I’d get disappointed because Christmas wasn’t much of a highlight with my husband and I. We’d do presents for my step daughter’s sake and when she was little, she’d spend Christmas with her mum with all the glitter, and spent shortly before or after with us, lower key but still honouring the essence of Christmas regarding Jesus, and gifts for cultural normality.
And as time went on, I began to take on more and more of my husband’s view:
Where is the Christmas spirit in stress, family feuds and materialism? It surely isn’t of GOD.
And of course, Jesus wasn’t born in December. Some suggest the birth of Jesus was in October time, around the Feast of Tabernacles. Others say springtime, because the shepherds would have gathered, slept out with the sheep at that time of year. But certainly not in December when it was cold.
But then my son came along…
I was determined to ensure he could enjoy the festivities of Christmas. Important to me was that I never lie to him about Santa Clause or Father Christmas (I never did; he just assumed gifts without labels were from Santa rather than from friends or family).
We would celebrate Christmas with friends who did the same.
I still continued to love the nativity.
GOD provided friends to enjoy a Christmas tree and time with them, particularly for my son’s sake.
And now
My son has grown into a young man with pretty much the same view as his dad… Christmas is highly materialistic and superficial, with (often) little to do with a walk with Jesus. But the carols are lovely and it is nice to share with others the story of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection.
He and I spend time together and with family and friends, and it is good.
We don’t get stressed and we encourage others to take it easy.
We don’t have a tree — Jordan has never had a tree — and we don’t take on the culture. But I do have a nativity scene in the house and we love in our hearts.
To you this Christmas
This Christmas, try not to get too stressed. And if you do start to worry about which present and what menu, remember LOVE is the real measure of the Season. It is love who came down at Christmas, after all.
Shalom and Merry Christmas,
Sarah