please remember

This is my favorite time of the year! I absolutely love Christmas. In fact, I’ve been known to break out the Christmas spirit (including music!) as early as September. I get caught up in the cold weather, the real Christmas tree and all the trouble it is to decorate, the garland and bows on the front porch, the wrapping of presents… It’s all just so beautiful and satisfying.

But, in a very sad way, this is also one of the most depressing times of the year! To a degree, I absolutely dread Christmas. Making the lists and then checking stuff off can be expensive and infuriating. Dealing with all the crazed shoppers is a scary task. So many people feel desperately lonely and sad. And all of us tend to forget what this glorious, national holiday is all about.

I honestly wonder what Jesus thinks of our American Christmas celebration. It’s full of parties, children’s musicals and gift giving, but does that matter? We busy ourselves with buying, spending and traveling, but is that what it’s all about? Please don’t misunderstand me. I do all of that too and even enjoy most of it, but it grieves me to know that we so quickly forget.

We forget that God created this spinning blue dot in the universe, formed our bodies from the dust and has numbered the hairs of our head. We forget that He joyfully chose to come to us as a human. We forget that Jesus’ entire earthly existence was an example of how to love, live and lead. We forget that Christmas can (and maybe should) be celebrated without the gifts, lights, trees, parties, movies, music, etc.

This year I want to remember. Remember what it’s all about. Focus on the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Center myself on His love for this sinful, evil world. Consider the fact that a tiny baby, born in a barn some 2000 years ago, transformed our world forever. This year I want to remember. And I want you too as well.

I’m not sure what you can/should do to remember. Different people do different things. My family has always had a tradition of reading the Christmas story together on Christmas morning. We end with the part about the wise men and their three gifts, then we give our little boy three (fairly inexpensive) gifts. Some families offer themselves in service of some kind to those less fortunate (i.e. serving in a soup kitchen, passing out gifts, etc.) A lot of churches have communion and/or prayer services to reflect upon. There are hundreds of creative and practical things we can do to curb this horrible tendency toward forgetfulness.

Please remember! God, help me remember. I’m going to give and receive gifts this year, but that’s not what it’s about. Help me remember that. We have a beautiful tree and lovely decorations again, but that’s not what it’s about. We’re going to travel a long way to see family, eat delicious food, listen to great music, go to worship services, etc., but even that is not what it’s about. Please, Lord, help us remember You. May all the traditions, every song and movie, all the family gatherings and stories, may it all reflect and remind and highlight You, Lord. And may we rediscover Your love for the world as a whole and for us as individuals. We love You too, Jesus! We love You too!