Christmas Craziness

I often wonder about the holidays.  People just seem to go crazy at Christmas time.  If it's not the decorations and the presents, its the activities or the baking.  All of a sudden it is imperative that the houses all twinkle with lights and that the house is filled with hidden gifts and containers of cookies.  I'm not saying that any of this is bad.  I actually enjoy much of it.  I just wonder as to the reasoning behind it.

Are we trying to make up for the rest of a fairly boring year by going frantic to have a near perfect holiday?  Is it because we don't want to appear 'scroogish' by keeping things simple?  Is it because it is simply tradition or something we feel expected to do?  I don't know, I'm just guessing.  Churches do it - special services, special dinners, extra activities.  Schools do it - concerts, parties, special projects.  Stores for sure do it - lowest prices of the year, free shipping, extended hours.  What is it about the holidays that almost seems to demand that we go all out to make everything perfect?

Like I said, I really don't know.  I do know that most of it really misses the point of what Christmas is though.  Christmas is simply the celebration of Jesus' birth.  It is remembering that many years ago, God's son gave up His perfect existence in heaven to be born to a simple girl, named Mary, in a dirty, stinky stable in a little town named Bethlehem.  He did it because He wanted to come to live like one of us - so He could understand what we go through in this thing called life.  He did it because He wanted to become good friends with 12 pretty rough, uncultured guys and try to help them understand things about God that people had completely missed.  He did it because He knew that He had to be the perfect sacrifice for sin.  He did it because He loves us so much, that He was willing to do whatever it took to make sure that we could be in perfect relationship with Him forever.  He did it so that He could leave us with the Holy Spirit to comfort us, counsel us and keep us until the day He comes to take us Home.  That's the true beauty of Christmas - who Jesus came to be for each one of us.

I like the Christmas lights at Christmas.  They are beautiful and calming somehow.  I remember when I see them that Jesus is the light of the world.  I like the presents at Christmas - I especially like picking out special gifts for people.  I remember the three wise men who brought their precious gifts to Jesus.  I like all the music at Christmas.  I love to hear all the festive songs.  I remember the Heavenly Hosts that appeared to the Shepherds - how awesome that must have sounded!  "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 

There is something very special about Christmas that really is unexplainable.  It's almost like God stirs up something so wonderful in our hearts that we just have to do something about it.  Decorate, buy gifts, bake cookies, sing songs, anything to express the wonder of what we are feeling.  It's like He is gently reminding us of His deep, unfailing love for each of us.

My prayer this Christmas is that we exchange the craziness for worship and wonder over all that Christmas really is.  I pray that His love for us is the first thing that comes to our mind when we think of Christmas day.  I pray that we share His love as the most precious gift we have to give this Christmas and that we shine His light through our life as we go about shopping, baking and decorating for this truly wonderful season.

Ba Humbug!

OK - so not the most uplifting phrase at Christmas time, but it does reflect the feelings of quite a few people during the holidays.  We usually think of them as 'downers' or people who just hate seeing people happy.  I've heard a phrase that has really helped me deal with negative people (including myself at times :) the phrase says "Hurt people, hurt people."  It is such a simple, but profound truth.  These Ba Humbuggers are hurt people who carry around a lot of pain and anger at things that have happened to them in their lives.  It does upset them to see people happy, because it reminds them that they are not - and that hurts.

When I am having a particularly hard day and feeling Ba Humbuggy, little Miss Susie Sunshine in her rose-colored glasses is the last person I want to see or hear from.  "Isn't life wonderful!"  "Let's decorate & make Christmas Cookies!"  No Thanks!  Give me a box of tissues and a quiet room, please.

I wish people could understand this a bit more, no a LOT more.  People hurt.  They have a lot of reasons to hurt - more than we probably even dare to know.  They are not just 'negative' or 'party-poopers' - something is really hurting them and the constant "It's the most wonderful time of the year" prattle just intensifies their pain.  They just want someone to see past their brusk exterior and take the time to listen to their hurting hearts.  After all, isn't that why Jesus came - you know the guy who's Birthday we are celebrating at Christmas?

Christmas is not an easy time of the year for many people.  Christmas is often not an easy time of the year for  me.  Maybe that's why I know this stuff so well.  Maybe that's why I see all the people who are hurting - because I identify with the deep sadness I see in their eyes.  I wish for Christmas that I could take all that sadness and pain away from them, but I know I can't.  But - I can listen.  I can care.  I can share a little of the love that Jesus has lavished on me.  I can offer them hope, peace & joy - all the things that Christmas is really about.

^{Isaiah 61
1} The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   . . . to comfort all who mourn,
 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.