Christmas Really Is Special After All

Merry Christmas Eve!

As I've been thinking about what to write today, I've come to a realization. I have nothing profound or new to say about Christmas that hasn't been said before. Sorry to disappoint you! Really, I tried. I thought long and hard about it and got nowhere.

So instead of great words of wisdom, I decided to opt for honesty and what I'm learning this Christmas season. I've realized that my attitude about this holiday the past couple years has stunk. Seriously. I've pretty much thought the last few years, "Christmas isn't going to be special this year because." and fill in the blank. Because my parents were 14 hours away and I wasn't spending it with them, because I had to work, because my husband had to work, because we were celebrating on a day other than Christmas so Christmas day didn't feel like Christmas day, because we're poor and can't buy presents for anyone else or for each other, because I have to split time between my family and my in-laws, because we haven't really established our own traditions so Christmas feels different every year, and so on and so on.

Wait a minute, Christmas isn't going to be special???!!

How could I possibly think that? Have I somehow forgotten that the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the Alpha and Omega, the Almighty, came to earth and took on our flesh? That He humbled Himself and walked among us? That He was born to die so that He might live again and save this girl who thinks that the day we celebrate His birth isn't that special?

Wow. Now I feel pretty humbled.

Unfortunately in this country we are soaked in a culture that sees this day as one that is all about material things. This season becomes one where most everyone is self-absorbed and concerned about money and presents. Did you know that every year we spend 450 billion dollars on Christmas and it would take only 10 billion to solve the world's clean water problem? Obviously, priorities are a little off. And it's so hard for us not to let that kind of thinking seep into our own lives. The call to be in and not of this world is not an easy thing.

But when I step back and look at this day as it should be looked at, as one that changed my life and my eternity forever, everything else just fades away. The tree, the lights, the gifts, the events of the day, really mean nothing at all when I think about Jesus being born so that one day He could die, and that by His sacrifice of living and dying I have hope and security and life through Him.

And the most amazing part of it all is that He thought I was special enough to do it all for.

Merry Christmas

Emily