From The Manger To The Cross
December is officially here, it was as of yesterday. The countdown is on to the big day, December 25, Christmas.
Malls and stores are amping up for end of the year sales, filling carts, fulfilling wishes, and emptying wallets everywhere. Windows, with lights, and colourful displays encourage us to walk in, look around and buy. For some reason, for the sake of Christmas euphoria, we spend, buy, wrap, and place these special gifts under the tree.
I love Christmas, I always have. When I was a child, it was always a magical time. My mom always decorated our house with coloured lights, garlands of tinsel, little elves peeking out here and there, wreaths and of course our Christmas tree. Let's not forget the delicious goodies, fudge, cookies of all kinds, tarts, squares, fruit cake, you name it, she baked it. Our home had bowls and platters overflowing with sweet treats to nibble on. Our home, was festive, with Christmas music being piped downstairs from my parents hifi stereo.
When I was married, I too, carried on similar traditions for my family. I decorated, baked and sang all of the old songs too, but from a CD player instead of a hifi. Now, seeing the look in my grandchildrens eyes when they see grandma and papa's house transformed into a winter wonderland is worth all the work and time.
Family traditions are wonderful and special, but Christmas isn't about traditions, decorations, goodies, or gifts. Kindness, compassion, and giving are terrific too, but they are not what Christmas is about either. All of those should be employed everyday, not just during the holidays.
Christmas is about a child being born in a stable, and laid to rest in a manger. A child, born to a young Hebrew girl named Mary. A child who changed the world simply by being born, but mostly because of his death.
Christmas is a day to remember the sacrifice that God gave to the world by bringing his son to the world for the sole purpose of dying...to save us.
Christma's is more than giving gifts and good will towards men. It's about the gift that was offered to all of us, through Jesus Christ. Christmas comes from His name, meaning Christ's mass. Mass, defined as an assemblage, a large gathering together of people. Christ-mass, a large group of people gathering together in the name of our Lord. So, if God isn't in your belief system, then celebrating Christmas is hypocritical.
Unfortunately, society continues to push God out of Christmas, and children don't even know who Jesus is. They can however, identify Santa.
In this upcoming busy season full of shopping, parties and gathering together for friends and family, I encourage everyone to stop, and meditate on why we say Merry Christmas and not just Happy Holidays. It's not just a tradition, it's a love story between the saviour and each one of us.
Christmas...it began in a manger.
Malls and stores are amping up for end of the year sales, filling carts, fulfilling wishes, and emptying wallets everywhere. Windows, with lights, and colourful displays encourage us to walk in, look around and buy. For some reason, for the sake of Christmas euphoria, we spend, buy, wrap, and place these special gifts under the tree.
I love Christmas, I always have. When I was a child, it was always a magical time. My mom always decorated our house with coloured lights, garlands of tinsel, little elves peeking out here and there, wreaths and of course our Christmas tree. Let's not forget the delicious goodies, fudge, cookies of all kinds, tarts, squares, fruit cake, you name it, she baked it. Our home had bowls and platters overflowing with sweet treats to nibble on. Our home, was festive, with Christmas music being piped downstairs from my parents hifi stereo.
When I was married, I too, carried on similar traditions for my family. I decorated, baked and sang all of the old songs too, but from a CD player instead of a hifi. Now, seeing the look in my grandchildrens eyes when they see grandma and papa's house transformed into a winter wonderland is worth all the work and time.
Family traditions are wonderful and special, but Christmas isn't about traditions, decorations, goodies, or gifts. Kindness, compassion, and giving are terrific too, but they are not what Christmas is about either. All of those should be employed everyday, not just during the holidays.
Christmas is about a child being born in a stable, and laid to rest in a manger. A child, born to a young Hebrew girl named Mary. A child who changed the world simply by being born, but mostly because of his death.
Christmas is a day to remember the sacrifice that God gave to the world by bringing his son to the world for the sole purpose of dying...to save us.
Christma's is more than giving gifts and good will towards men. It's about the gift that was offered to all of us, through Jesus Christ. Christmas comes from His name, meaning Christ's mass. Mass, defined as an assemblage, a large gathering together of people. Christ-mass, a large group of people gathering together in the name of our Lord. So, if God isn't in your belief system, then celebrating Christmas is hypocritical.
Unfortunately, society continues to push God out of Christmas, and children don't even know who Jesus is. They can however, identify Santa.
In this upcoming busy season full of shopping, parties and gathering together for friends and family, I encourage everyone to stop, and meditate on why we say Merry Christmas and not just Happy Holidays. It's not just a tradition, it's a love story between the saviour and each one of us.
Christmas...it began in a manger.
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