What If?
What If ?
Please join me in a little game of “what if.” What if every tradition we have was removed from our Christmas season? What if there were no more presents or Santa? What if we had no more cookies or lefse (this loss would be hard for me)? What if all the lights and decorations we replaced with bare walls and yards? What if Christmas music were all taken away? What if the turkey and ham could not be found and our dinner consisted only of tuna sandwiches? What if Christmas did not include any friends or family? What if?
Maybe 2020 means that you are giving up SOME of the above traditions. The point is, what if everything was taken away. What would we have? A short Christmas song that the children will sing for their Christmas program this year puts Christmas in perspective:
Happy birthday, Jesus, I’m so glad it’s Christmas
All the tinsel and lights and the presents are nice
But the real gift is You
Happy birthday, Jesus I'm so glad it's Christmas
All the carols and bells make the holiday swell
And it's all about You
Happy birthday, Jesus
Jesus, I love You
What a difference it makes to say “the presence and tinsel are nice, but the real gift is Jesus”! What more do we need? This is the true Christmas spirit. It is the same Christmas spirit that Simeon showed when he met baby Jesus. Luke 2:29-32 records the song of Simeon: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Simeon had things in perspective. There was nothing more that He longed for on this earth than to meet the Savior. Having met the Christ-child, he was prepared to depart in peace.
So what if our Christmas traditions are taken away? The true Christmas spirit is found in the Savior in the manger. No one and nothing can take Him away. He is here to stay. Let’s go back to our what if game. What if our homes were filled this year with Christ’s gift of hope, joy, and peace? What if our families would gather for meaningful times spent in reading the Christmas story together? What if Jesus returned to the center of our celebration? What if we all longed for the simple message of a Savior, born in a manger, who came to save us from our sins?
I encourage you this year to reconsider your Christmas activities. Advent is a beautiful time to begin meaningful routines as a family. This could look like times of family devotions. There are numerous advent devotionals available. This could also mean looking for ways to share with our neighbors and friends. Take time to invite them over or share some baked goods. Also remind them of God’s greatest gift to us! What if? I pray this Christmas will be the opportunity of a lifetime for my family and yours to grow closer to Jesus.
Happy birthday, Jesus! Pastor Matthew