Celebrating the Christ of Christmas

No one left out cookies for Santa Claus last night. No “magic reindeer dust” was sprinkled (or dumped) on the front walk. This morning, an alarm was set because the excitement of the morning wasn’t enough to spur the girls from their slumber. As the day progressed, there was no where to go and no reason to prep the house or the family for guests.

Christmas is different this year. The youngest Vinson girl confessed her understanding of Santa. All three of our “children” are now over some of the traditions we have held for over two decades. With Wally’s brother moving across the state, there is no longer extended family in town to gather with.

To be honest, there is some melancholy that wants to seep into my focus. My babies aren’t babies any more and things aren’t like they’ve “always been.” Loved ones are with Jesus. The hands of time cannot be reversed or set back. Like my momma said, “Enjoy today because it can (and will) all change.”

So, these thoughts and feelings were all pooling in my head and heart this morning as we sat down to light the last advent calendar and share in a Vinson family tradition that I hope will endure no matter who might be home on Christmas morning. As the girls read through the verses of Luke 2 and Wally shared some thoughts of sharing the light of the candles with others, my mind wandered as I began to wonder, what is it that we are really celebrating when we celebrate Christmas.

Oh sure, keeping Christ in Christmas means the baby and the manger and giving gifts because the wise men brought Jesus gifts and God gave us the gift of His son. Most anyone - whether they would claim a faith in Christ or not, can give a basic “Sunday School” answer - lip service to what we know we should say if we are asked, “What are you celebrating when you celebrate Christmas?”

But, if we are honest with ourselves, it is easy to celebrate some of the common grace gifts God gives instead. People, literally the world over, celebrate this holiday without any knowledge or acknowledgment of Jesus. We celebrate the best of human nature. We celebrate family. We celebrate giving. Watch any Hallmark movie or animated special and add to the list of good things that embodies the “Christmas Spirit.” Even Scrooge’s nephew in Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” echoes these sentiments that are separate from the sacred origins of the holiday’s namesake.

Longing for “peace on Earth” and relishing in a child’s excited anticipation of Santa’s visit are sweet sentiments, but they are but a shadow of bigger truths that the reality of Christmas allows us to attest to. Through Jesus, we do have peace with our Creator who will one day establish an Earth without strife and strivings. And, oh! If only we could all have a childlike faith as we wait for His eventual, second coming!

Every good thing that we can celebrate this Christmas season, does have its beginnings within Christ - if only we would open our spiritual eyes to see it. As believers, the Spirt should enhance our understanding of the incarnation, God coming to Earth in human form. So no matter what season of life we find ourselves, whatever our life circumstances might be, we can seek and find joy in Christmas because of everything it implies.

Maybe the family gathering looks different this year. Maybe there is uncertainty awaiting us in the new year. Maybe there is pain - physically and/or emotionally, As a result of all these things or other reasons, maybe it is hard to celebrate Christmas this year - or maybe we aren’t really celebrating the Christ of Christmas?

God knows our hearts’ motives better than we know them ourselves. Why are we giving gifts? Why are we making such a fuss? Why are we exhausted and stressed and overwhelmed to such a point that we are just hoping to survive the holiday? —— For me, it was because I was celebrating something other than the Christ of Christmas.

The things I was celebrating were good things - family and tradition. I would’ve said the Jesus’ birth was up there too, but my stressed out, overwhelmed and tired heart would have said otherwise. The sadness that tried to settle in to my conscientiousness revealed that I needed to intentionally seek to keep Christ in my celebration.

So, that is how I prayed, and, because it is a prayer that God promises to answer, I have been able to hold both my disappointments with the way things have changed this Christmas, alongside the great joy that the meaning of Christmas creates within the reality of my life.

Because of Christmas, I have a relationship with God. I know what it means to be reconciled to a Holy God who sees me and is intimately involved in my life. The “Christmas” name of Jesus, “Emmanuel,” means God WITH us. Because of Christmas I have identity and purpose. I am God’s child and have a whole life of things that He has ordained for me to do. Because of Christmas, I have peace and hope when I look into the uncertainty of this world and the unknown of the days to come. I know Who is in charge and I know He will return.

These are things that I am celebrating today. When I get out the good dishes and make the twice-baked potatoes this evening, with my daughters and husband gathered around our table, we won’t be keeping tradition or merely enjoying one another’s company - we will be celebrating the Christ of Christmas.

Photo by Philippa Lowe on Unsplash