(2004) Is there a better time of year than Christmas time? Is there any other time of year that's more focused on joy, giving, peace and love? What about the greatness of our holiday friends like Rudolph, Santa, the Elves or Frosty?
I just love Christmas.
Of course as a Christian, this time of year is truly about celebrating our freedom from sin as Christ was born. No gift will ever be more meaningful or bigger than the one He gave us 2000 years ago.
But there are good reasons many of us could scoff at Christmas these days. There is no doubt it has become too commercialized and removed from the story of Jesus. People have become too busy, chasing the best deals for gifts, waiting in line overnight and fighting over something for the kids, or running here in there busier than ever. Stores make millions in 4 short weeks each year starting the day after Thanksgiving with what they call "Black Friday". That one day in sales usually moves them from a loss to a profit for the year. It's incredible.
Yet the world isn't alone. Christians get busy too. We fall in line with the mall shopping, the craziness of travel, volunteering, rehearsing and performing in plays or musicals at church, or even being busy entertaining the family with various movies, special events and Christmas light touring. It really does get crazy.
But even so, it is still the greatest time and we need to do our part to keep the real meaning and fun in Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season and we can honor Him by making it fun and enjoying every minute of it. Nothing honors anyone more than celebrating their birth for 30 days or more! Santa, Rudolph, the Elves and Frosty (yes, even if you live in Texas) are all apart of His birthday gang. They too can make us laugh, smile and ponder the joy of all that God has given us.
If we aren't careful though, Christmas time is going to be turned into "Holiday time". The world is already working on removing the name Christmas from Christmas Tree. Jesus is being pushed into the back and it won't be long before Frosty and the rest of the gang will be standing there all alone. After all, if not for Jesus, there would not be Christmas. And if there was no Christmas, there would be no Frosty, Santa or the rest. What would be the point?
Frosty didn’t' come alive because of just a corn cob pipe. He came alive with the birth of Christ. Without Christmas, he too will melt away into the past. He isn't a Holiday character, he is a Christmas character.
So, stop today and take some time to enjoy it all. Make it fun. Laugh, smile and cry and enjoy the birthday party for Jesus! Then steal a moment away to thank God for Him and commit to Him that you'll never let Frosty melt. If we don't, the world is going to steal Christmas right out from under our feet. An if they succeed, then there will no longer be a birthday party called Christmas.
And trust me, if that happens, it will do much more than just melt Frosty.
"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy…" Psalm 30:11
© 2004, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
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