“What Does Christmas Mean?”
It seems when the air begins to get crisp in the Fall, Christmas is just around the corner. When I was a kid we looked forward to the fun we had on Halloween, but even then it was the day that brought Christmas that much closer. I remember the good smells of Thanksgiving dinner—the speech Dad gave about the Pilgrims and the Indians and when coming to the close of Thanksgiving, it was fine with me because the next step on the list was Christmas!
There was so much to look forward to on Christmas. The presents, the tree, the family, the fun, the songs, the trips, the games, and for lack of better expression the Christmas feeling. This feeling is amplified even further of the great Christmas stories such as the poem “The Night Before Christmas”, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” (frankly, I still get watery eyed when I read Tiny Tim’s words “...and God bless us everyone”, and what Baby-Boomer won’t hold sacred, “How the Grench Stole Christmas”
Among God’s people there often is a controversy. Some say “Don’t celebrate, it’s heathen”, others say “Only celebrate modestly.” At Christmas, I believe we, of all people should celebrate Christmas joyously. It is the birth of our Lord. I know it’s not the exact date—but who knows the exact date, and as far as that goes, who cares—it is good to celebrate the fact of His coming!
What does Christmas mean to the Christian? It means Christ has come. Even if the earth isn’t celebrating peace—we have peace on our portion of earth that we occupy because of God’s peace we enjoy a home in Heaven since Christ made an earthly home among us. Christmas is a good time to exchange gifts because it reminds us of the greatest gift God could ever give; the gift of His Son. Every year I remind our kids as we gather at the Christmas tree that God also hung His gift upon a tree.
At our house we have a ceramic manger scene. As Christmas comes to a close and the kids are in bed, I will, as before, go to that softly lit scene in the darkness of our living room and remember that first magical Christmas when as John W. Peterson said was the “Glorious Night of Miracles.” To me that is what Christmas is...the miraculous. It is hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless, comfort to the comfortless, and joy to the mourner.
- Pastor Pope -