Looking Like the True Christmas
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere I go!” That is true even here in Florida! People are putting lights and Christmas decorations on their palm trees and wreaths on their doors and garland on their light poles. Yes, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas MINUS the real Reason for the Christmas-Jesus!!
I was in a store the other day surrounded by Christmas trappings and managed to find just two small Nativity scenes representing the real Reason for Christmas! It is sad to see how snowmen and angels reindeer and Santa have replaced JESUS as central to Christmas!
It doesn’t have to be this way! We could turn this around and, once again, put the emphasis on the Essence of Christmas which is in reality a Person, THE Person of Jesus Christ! We could put out Nativity scenes in our yards and in our homes. We could fill our spaces with lights and candles representing THE Light of the world, Jesus! We could continue to say “Merry Christmas” as opposed to “Happy Holidays” as a gentle reminder of the Reason we celebrate this holiday. We could scent the house with fragrances of the season and send a sweet aroma heavenward!
We could be radically happy during this season of the year and, by our sheer joy in the season, reflect the Reason for it!! We could be the one encouraging and thanking and praising people for their efforts to serve us during this time of the year. We could be patient in lines and gracious in waiting and calm in tense situations and give smiles often. We could take and make opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas with family, friends and strangers. We could be kinder than normal, more understanding than usual and stable in the midst of whatever!
We-you and me-could make this Christmas reflect the true meaning of Christmas! I want to challenge each of you as you prepare for Christmas to put Jesus back in it!! Merry Christmas to each of you and may 2011 be your best year yet!