By: Erika Glover
Chase asked me to write a post on Christmas Day about a month ago. I said sure, that I’d love to, not really thinking about what it might entail. It’s just another blog post, but it has to be special. It has to have one topic. I usually write three posts before I can decide on one to post, one that I want to share. This one has to be about the birth of our Lord, and everyone knows about it. It’s the one story of the bible that everyone knows. So I’m going to take a different approach…bear with me.
I’m writing this on Christmas Eve, its approximately 1:24 and 58 degrees outside, and it stormed last night, uhmmmm White Christmas?? I guess not. It doesn’t feel like Christmas. At all. My tree is up in the living room, the presents are wrapped and the cookies are baked, but it still doesn’t feel like Christmas. I don’t know about you, but my family has a lot of traditions. We get together with my dad’s side this day, my mom’s side this day, extended family that day, and church here and here. We take this picture and give that gift to this person and it all becomes very routine. Christmas has a lot of material and physical sense to it. The gifts we give are definitely representations of our love for each other, and traditions are great and so incredible, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes Mr. Claus lets us forget the baby who was born on this day. But this day is Jesus’s Birthday, and we all know we would be upset if our brothers and sisters neglected our birthday.
I believe we can all agree that the season of Christmas isn’t the same without the “things” or “stuff.” Now you’re probably expecting me to go off on some ya know its not about the presents or the Christmas tree or anything, It’s about Christ. Now granted, that’s true. But that doesn’t mean that this materialism, that stuff, are not a part of Christmas. Now before you think im off my horse, let me explain. God’s love for you and me wasn’t simply just an idea, God’s love fro you and me wasn’t simply a feeling, God’s love for you and me became material in Jesus Christ. And if you think about it, God himself began this tradition at Christmas time of giving things to others to show our love. He started it all. Theres a reason we do all this “stuff.” There is a reason why when we see the gifts under the tree, we get excited. Its in a way, an imitation of the way God loves us. His love is real, through the birth of Jesus, the love of god became material. Jesus walked the face of the earth, he was real. People touched him, the cried upon him.
Birthdays equal presents and since today is Jesus’ birthday doesn’t he deserve one as well? So we ponder what might Jesus, son of God want? And we could list off, world peace, happiness amongst all, for all of his people to get along, the usual. But my friends, I believe the Lord could really want one things from us; to love one another as He has loved us. A love that isn’t just an idea or a thought, but a love that you can see from all angles. A love that radiates from us, that when other experience us, they experience Him. So I believe we must ask ourselves as we reflect on this Christmas season, is the love we show to the world real? Is it material? Can others see it? Or are we stuck in the trap?
I’m writing this on Christmas Eve, its approximately 1:24 and 58 degrees outside, and it stormed last night, uhmmmm White Christmas?? I guess not. It doesn’t feel like Christmas. At all. My tree is up in the living room, the presents are wrapped and the cookies are baked, but it still doesn’t feel like Christmas. I don’t know about you, but my family has a lot of traditions. We get together with my dad’s side this day, my mom’s side this day, extended family that day, and church here and here. We take this picture and give that gift to this person and it all becomes very routine. Christmas has a lot of material and physical sense to it. The gifts we give are definitely representations of our love for each other, and traditions are great and so incredible, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes Mr. Claus lets us forget the baby who was born on this day. But this day is Jesus’s Birthday, and we all know we would be upset if our brothers and sisters neglected our birthday.
I believe we can all agree that the season of Christmas isn’t the same without the “things” or “stuff.” Now you’re probably expecting me to go off on some ya know its not about the presents or the Christmas tree or anything, It’s about Christ. Now granted, that’s true. But that doesn’t mean that this materialism, that stuff, are not a part of Christmas. Now before you think im off my horse, let me explain. God’s love for you and me wasn’t simply just an idea, God’s love fro you and me wasn’t simply a feeling, God’s love for you and me became material in Jesus Christ. And if you think about it, God himself began this tradition at Christmas time of giving things to others to show our love. He started it all. Theres a reason we do all this “stuff.” There is a reason why when we see the gifts under the tree, we get excited. Its in a way, an imitation of the way God loves us. His love is real, through the birth of Jesus, the love of god became material. Jesus walked the face of the earth, he was real. People touched him, the cried upon him.
Birthdays equal presents and since today is Jesus’ birthday doesn’t he deserve one as well? So we ponder what might Jesus, son of God want? And we could list off, world peace, happiness amongst all, for all of his people to get along, the usual. But my friends, I believe the Lord could really want one things from us; to love one another as He has loved us. A love that isn’t just an idea or a thought, but a love that you can see from all angles. A love that radiates from us, that when other experience us, they experience Him. So I believe we must ask ourselves as we reflect on this Christmas season, is the love we show to the world real? Is it material? Can others see it? Or are we stuck in the trap?
A prayer for Christmas
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the blessings you have given me this year. Thank you for the memories i have been given the opportunity to make and for the people i've been blessed to make them with. Let the love that you have given me be reflected out into my daily life. Teach me to love like you Father. Give me the words to share the good news of your son to those i encounter. Be with my family, and those without a family on this day of rejoicing. Thank you for sending your son to us, to give us a real example of your love. I love you Lord.
Amen
Merry Christmas!
Your sister in Christ, Erika
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the blessings you have given me this year. Thank you for the memories i have been given the opportunity to make and for the people i've been blessed to make them with. Let the love that you have given me be reflected out into my daily life. Teach me to love like you Father. Give me the words to share the good news of your son to those i encounter. Be with my family, and those without a family on this day of rejoicing. Thank you for sending your son to us, to give us a real example of your love. I love you Lord.
Amen
Merry Christmas!
Your sister in Christ, Erika