If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
I got home late last night and I happened to glance up and see this funny scene…it looked as if reindeer antlers were stuck in the icicles on our house. Of course it is just a tree branch but it sure struck me as funny and then I began to think upon this silly situation. What if Santa had to perform his duties on Christmas night with just 7 reindeer? Would it change the story? Would they have to rewrite the song and if so, which reindeer would they leave out? On further thinking, I wondered why we have such a focus on Santa and his reindeer anyways with it being Jesus’ birthday and all. Which, caused be to think about a message I heard once about Jesus being born in September…..hmmmmmm… things that make me go and ponder!
When I sat myself down and thought about all of these things today I began to think to myself, ” Do we really need Christmas?”. My answer? Of course we do! Whether we believe in the birth of a savior or the bringing of joy by a jolly old elf, it still causes families to connect and cheer to be spread. I know some push the envelope and make Christmas a much bigger deal than need be, however, at the end of it all, joy was shared right? Okay maybe not with every situation but overall there is a pause in life for just a few moments to share gifts with friends and family.
I also meditated about those who have no one this holiday. The forgot ones who life has just pushed aside for whatever reasons. They are the ones who need a Christmas hope more than anyone else and if that hope comes from someone giving them a gift from Santa then at least love was shared and what is love? God. Perhaps if there was a better balance between Jesus and Santa I could feel more at ease with Santa. I remember when my kids were young, I hated Santa. I could not get over the fact that he was getting all the credit for what we as parents worked hard to get. I was just ever so happy for Christmas to be done.
I challenge each of us this year to step away from Christmas and reevaluate our perspective of it. Are we in it for the gifts or the love? Do we have a desire to bless others or do we just want to get something good? I am not sure where I lost my love for Christmas, but I know I need to get a new look at it in my heart. I want to bring joy and hope. I just want people to see Jesus in Christmas again.
