Tis the Season
December 17, 2020 15 Comments
I’m like a big, overgrown kid. I look forward to Christmas every year; not anticipating gifts as a child might, but as the season of remembering the most astounding event in the history of mankind – the birth of the Christ Child. But I also look forward to the Christmas lights – on trees and houses and the occasional automobile. I look forward to the Carols, though I have to admit a preference for the religious ones.
It started in July this year. That’s a first for me. Generally, like most Americans, I think that Halloween is the springboard to Thanksgiving which is the springboard to Christmas. Halloween whispers, “It’s coming”, Thanksgiving shouts, “It’s almost here!” This year, this 2020 year, this most unprecedented year, my need for Christmas reared it’s head and kept poking my heart. My gosh, it’s been a brutal year: an impeachment, a virus, no Memorial Day or 4th of July to speak of, the awful debates, and then the Never-ending Election. Brutal! I swung from depression to sadness to anger back to depression. I had to go to the best ‘feel good’ time of the year to get through it all.
I think it worth noting that the words of this Carol were what replayed in my head; the words, “God is not dead nor doth he sleep”.
I had to keep reminding myself that He is, indeed, alive and He never sleeps and sees and hears all. That’s a comfort. A great comfort. So July-Christmas started there.
The months slowly moved through their days until, finally, December first. Oh, what a relief! I can completely submerge myself in the beauty and wonder of Christmas. People complain that Christmas has become (or has been for years) too commercial. I rather think of it this way – the Three Wise Men brought special gifts to the Child, meaningful, important gifts; isn’t that what we’re doing? The Magi didn’t have nine billion stores to choose from – that we do is both a blessing and curse but our thought is the same as theirs; to find the best, the most meaningful gift, for the loved ones in our lives. We, in our own ways, repeat the Magi’s gift-giving.
The evergreen tree – or whatever facsimile thereof – represents the never-ending life of Jesus. The angel ornament (or the star) at the top of the tree represents the herald angel that announced to the shepherds, (St. Luke, chapter two, verse 10) “And the angel of the Lord said unto them, Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Linus tells it beautifully
And of course, the gifts at the foot of the tree are the reminder of the Magi.
There is a wonderful innocence to this time of year. Each Christmas is new and shiny and unsullied from the world. Each new Christmas is the reminder of Immanuel – God with us. We see our family and friends in the light of the newness of Christ Child. We find peace, joy, and contentment. That, my very dear friends, is the joy of Christmas.