There's a lot of happiness at Christmas time, but there's a lot of sadness too. Loss of loved ones, struggles with depression, illnesses and the list goes on. The expectation is that we should all be happy. After all it is the most wonderful time of the year.
But Christmas isn't all about happiness, and isn't all about us, yet in our culture that's what we focus on. We get so busy this time of year and so engrossed in our favorite traditions that we actually miss out on Christmas. Minus the hour we spend Christmas Eve at a church service and the little things we do to try to refocus our family onto Christ and off of ourselves and even each other, we fail to truly celebrate Christmas.
My favorite Hallmark Christmas movies would have you believe that christmas is all about giving, romantic love & still believing in the spirit of Santa Claus. It seems so sweet and perfect, but this version of christmas always misses the mark.
Yes, Christmas is about giving - Jesus gave His life for us. In turn, we try to live our lives in a giving way, and Christmas always helps us "step it up." We do this out of love, and "we love because He first loved us." -1 John 4:19
Yes, Christmas is about LOVE, not romantic love (which is still great for the movies). Christmas is about that John 3:16 God love. "For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."
Christ-Mass = Christ's death or the death of Christ = Christmas = Our salvation rests in what Jesus did on the cross.
Pause - Christmas tree hunting pictures!! Don't get me wrong I love all of the fun traditions of Christmas! I'm just feeling the need to refocus.
Finally, so many of my favorite Christmas movies perpetuate this need to believe in Santa.
Disclaimer - I have nothing against Santa. I choose not to celebrate him with my kids, but I certainly don't think less of anyone who keeps the tradition of leaving milk and cookies for the jolly old elf.
Santa is fun, but it actually makes me really sad when I hear people and the movies akin the spirit of Christmas with the spirit of Santa. As if somehow believing in Santa will save us from our selfish selves.
Let's try to recognize Jesus as the one who saves us from our selfish sinful selves, not St. Nick.
So, to my favorite Christmas movies, Christmas is not about still believing in the spirit of Santa Claus or the actual person of Kris Kringle. It is wholly about the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, "who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. These then are the things you should teach. encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you."
- Titus 2:14-15
So, I will try to refocus this season as I return to my Hallmark Christmas movies and watching "The Santa ClausE" trilogy with my boys. The true meaning of Christmas is still and will always be alive and well. I just need some refocusing this Christmas and you get to share in my thoughts if you've read this far. :)
I recognize easter isn't too far away. So, after and during each movie we watch I will try to remind myself and the boys of God's love for us. I will remind them that it's always great to have fun with the fantasy of Santa and the fantasy world of most Christmas movies, and the reality of Jesus, God's son. Let's not marginalize Jesus, the true gift of Christmas past, present and future.
Merry Christmas to all who are enjoying this season to it's fullest and to those of my friends and family struggling this time of year.
"For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6
"He is not here;He is risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay." - Matthew 28:6
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