Every year it seems we all complain that the retailers are
rushing the seasons, particularly when Christmas decorations come out
before Halloween. I know I have groused and complained and had a bad
attitude in the past.
A couple weeks ago, I found myself with a very critical spirit and I began complaining to someone about it all.
But yesterday, I had an EPHIPHANY. (Oh, this IowaGirl does love word play!)
If the retailers want to deck the halls early, before Thanksgiving–bring it on, I say! I mean, it’s not like I just love Halloween and hate besmirching it with those nasty Christmas decorations. And their decorations can’t MAKE me buy things. And it’s certainly not because we know that Jesus absolutely was born December 25th and that you are only supposed to celebrate a birthday on THE DAY of the birthday.
AND, it’s not like the world hasn’t tried to suck out every last drop of joy and meaning and presence out of the Christmas season with the politically correct “Happy Holidays” (C’mon. Does my saying Merry Christmas really *really* force you to think/believe/act differently?), disallowing anything even remotely religious from the public square (And that star on the top of the town square tree . . . is that so distracting that you can’t just enjoy others’ joy?), and sanitizing every last Christmas Carol that we sing at WINTER concerts.
And I don’t mean that last paragraph sarcastically. I really am so sad that this is how polarized our country has become: We can’t “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud . . . Do not be conceited” (Romans 12).
So, my epiphany. I am going to enjoy this Christmas season every last minute this culture will let me do so. I say to the retailers, Bring on the Christmas Fanfare!
I am going to revel in the trees and ornaments, remembering that we gussy up because a Savior is coming . . .
I am going to appreciate any deals that the retailers are offering, knowing that they are as financially tight as the rest of us. I will offer a few words of encouragement and affirmation and hope that His love will ease their worries.
I am going to shop wisely, holding each loved one in mind, glad that the tradition of gift giving allows me the opportunity to commemorate the the gift I have been given of the birth, death, resurrection and anticipation of the return of Jesus.
I am going to, as Mike Mason calls it, “practice the presence of people”. I am going to step away from the computer and look into people’s eyes. His presence is *the* present He gave and gives, and I want to incarnate that gift to family, friends and strangers.
I am grateful that I live in a country where we can put up trees and say Merry Christmas and sing praise at the top of our lungs and I know that probably the worst that can happen is that I might get a little grief because I am not being sensitive enough to others’ beliefs and religions. But I won’t be beheaded or burned or stoned or shunned or thrown in a prison. I think that is worth a little joy and celebration.
This year, and every year, Christmas cannot come too soon! I have the perfect excuse/opportunity/invitation/joy of *sharing* why I celebrate Christmas and *inviting* others to the stable, where there is PLENTY of room. In fact, we want more people to squeeze in with us.
A couple weeks ago, I found myself with a very critical spirit and I began complaining to someone about it all.
But yesterday, I had an EPHIPHANY. (Oh, this IowaGirl does love word play!)
If the retailers want to deck the halls early, before Thanksgiving–bring it on, I say! I mean, it’s not like I just love Halloween and hate besmirching it with those nasty Christmas decorations. And their decorations can’t MAKE me buy things. And it’s certainly not because we know that Jesus absolutely was born December 25th and that you are only supposed to celebrate a birthday on THE DAY of the birthday.
AND, it’s not like the world hasn’t tried to suck out every last drop of joy and meaning and presence out of the Christmas season with the politically correct “Happy Holidays” (C’mon. Does my saying Merry Christmas really *really* force you to think/believe/act differently?), disallowing anything even remotely religious from the public square (And that star on the top of the town square tree . . . is that so distracting that you can’t just enjoy others’ joy?), and sanitizing every last Christmas Carol that we sing at WINTER concerts.
And I don’t mean that last paragraph sarcastically. I really am so sad that this is how polarized our country has become: We can’t “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud . . . Do not be conceited” (Romans 12).
So, my epiphany. I am going to enjoy this Christmas season every last minute this culture will let me do so. I say to the retailers, Bring on the Christmas Fanfare!
I am going to revel in the trees and ornaments, remembering that we gussy up because a Savior is coming . . .
I am going to appreciate any deals that the retailers are offering, knowing that they are as financially tight as the rest of us. I will offer a few words of encouragement and affirmation and hope that His love will ease their worries.
I am going to shop wisely, holding each loved one in mind, glad that the tradition of gift giving allows me the opportunity to commemorate the the gift I have been given of the birth, death, resurrection and anticipation of the return of Jesus.
I am going to, as Mike Mason calls it, “practice the presence of people”. I am going to step away from the computer and look into people’s eyes. His presence is *the* present He gave and gives, and I want to incarnate that gift to family, friends and strangers.
I am grateful that I live in a country where we can put up trees and say Merry Christmas and sing praise at the top of our lungs and I know that probably the worst that can happen is that I might get a little grief because I am not being sensitive enough to others’ beliefs and religions. But I won’t be beheaded or burned or stoned or shunned or thrown in a prison. I think that is worth a little joy and celebration.
This year, and every year, Christmas cannot come too soon! I have the perfect excuse/opportunity/invitation/joy of *sharing* why I celebrate Christmas and *inviting* others to the stable, where there is PLENTY of room. In fact, we want more people to squeeze in with us.
There is room in this economy, in this culture, in this climate, in this space, in my heart for an early Christmas!
I will enJOY this season and enJOY people and enJOY telling the great *Good News*: the *Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Messiah*!
Mary said it best:
“I’m bursting with God-news;
I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.”
No. Christmas does not come one moment too soon. For any of us.
Merry Christmas, with Love!
I will enJOY this season and enJOY people and enJOY telling the great *Good News*: the *Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Messiah*!
Mary said it best:
“I’m bursting with God-news;
I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.”
No. Christmas does not come one moment too soon. For any of us.
Merry Christmas, with Love!
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