The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmastime is upon us.
The holiday season is in full force, and has been really for the past several months.  The intensity is only building.  I'm pretty sure I had my first "Christmas stuff sighting" back in August.  Absolutely ridiculous, if you ask me.  But obviously the stores didn't...

Right now is supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year."
And there is something magical about it.
The Christmas lights twinkling.
The apple, cinnamon, pumpkin, pine, hazelnut, and other seasonal scents.
That first snow, so white and clean and pure.
The ringing of the red kettle bell.
Stirring hot chocolate with a candy cane.
Putting ornaments on the tree.
Sitting by the fireplace, stockings hung with care.
Singing carols.
Candlelight service on Christmas Eve.
The anticipation of Christmas morning.
Then, watching the kids open their presents.
Seeing their joy and excitement.
Listening to them laugh and shout.

Truly, it is wonderful.
BUT, it's also chaotic and stressful and busy and rushed and commerical.

Black Friday now starts on Thursday afternoon.  When we should be watching football or playing cards or doing a puzzle or telling stories with our families, we are standing in line or pushing and shoving to get the newest, hottest item while it's 45% off!  Not sure how that goes along with a day set aside to be THANKFUL?!

That goes right into Small Business Saturday, which I am all about.  Shop Small.  Support local businesses.  They represent the hearts and dreams of so many.  But money is still going out of the bank account...

And then you have Cyber Monday, in case you hadn't done enough shopping already.

Finally, we have Giving Tuesday.  Because we need to come back to the meaning of the season.

I fear we forget that JESUS is the reason for the season.
That we are celebrating HIS birth.
His leaving heaven and coming to earth.  As a baby. Born in a manager, surrounded by farm animals and lowly shepherds.
In our busyness, we miss that Jesus set aside ALL the glory of heaven for US.
And we rejected Him then.
Calling Him a liar.  Ignoring His invitation to eternal life.
Crucifying Him on a cross.  Mocking Him and saying if He wanted to save Himself He could come down off the tree.  Oh yes, He could have.  But, in saving Himself, we would have remained lost.  And so, He stayed.

Christmas and Easter.  Without them, we would have nothing.  Be nothing.

Instead, we can have everything.
I'm not talking about STUFF.
You can't put the present Jesus gives us under the tree.
Only in your heart.

The salvation Jesus offers us starts inside our soul.
And then extends to every part of us, affecting everything we do, and say.
Or it should.

How sad, then, that this most wonderful time of the year can tend to bring out the worst in us, not the best?  How crushing that we forget what - or more acturately WHO - we are celebrating and why.

As we head full speed ahead into December, I pray we will remember.
Pause.
Reflect.
Cherish what Jesus did all those years ago to make Christmas possible today.
In looking back, we also look forward to what is yet to come.  His return!

I for one do NOT want to be found in a long line outside some store on a Thursday night or Friday morning when Jesus makes His grand re-appearance.