As we enter into the month of December and all that the Christmas season brings, I know that this time can be different for everyone. Some of us are full of excitement and joy in anticipation of what this year will bring, while others of us dread this time and can’t wait for it to be over.
I used to be one who always dreaded Christmas. As a pastor in ministry, you might think that I would love the Christmas season. The problem is that Christmas had become more about all the events and programs and things we had to do. Just the thought of December and the Christmas season approaching would wear me out.
Then one year I found out that I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. My senior pastor at the time was working through the same feelings. So one year we decided to take back Christmas. It’s the year that simplicity became a core value for me.
We started asking the question: What are we doing that we shouldn’t be doing? What are the things that are causing us to dread Christmas? And we realized that Christmas had become more about the things we did and less about Jesus. It’s interesting how we can be so busy doing Christmas stuff that we forget what Christmas is all about.
In the excitement of the season, we can actually miss the true meaning of Christmas. And if we’re dreading Christmas, then perhaps we’re focusing on the wrong things. Now, I understand that the struggle of this season for some may be the pain of remembering lost loved ones. And I definitely don’t want to make light of this reality. But that is the amazing thing about our Savior. His presence can bring us comfort in these times. The Christmas season should be full of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. We can’t let the hoopla or the dread get in the way of what Jesus did by coming to this earth.
So, whether you’re excited and eagerly anticipating what this Christmas will bring or you’re dreading Christmas altogether, I encourage you to take a moment and reflect on what Christmas is all about: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” -Luke 2:11.
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