"They" say that Christmas comes but once a year so why does it feel like FOREVER. I'm not trying to be a Grinch, but, it seems that Christmas takes ages to come. Starting after (or sometimes before) Halloween they break out the Christmas candies and canned presents. I walk the isles of the grocery store and right next to the clearance Halloween candies are the Christmas candies. It just seems to soon. Living in the south, we usually haven't even experienced a freezing temperature yet and we are still wearing shorts from time to time. Soon Thanksgiving is left in the dust.
Then there are the parties that I love. Starting the first week of December there are the "White Elephant" parties, the work parties, the church parties, the dancing parties. Fun!
And soon it hits me: I've been reminded that Christmas is coming since October 31st but is is 2 weeks until Christmas day and I've made no preparations. Of course, I've put up the lights, the tree, and Christmas decorations litter the house. But I've yet to think about the gifts I am to give. Drat!
So I go into gift overdrive. I brainstorm ideas for good presents and organize. Then I brave the malls for a claustrophobic shopping experience. And there is a nice lull when I put them in their respective bags and wrapping papers and they sit in the "Go Zone" until I make the trip to Alabama. Our trip to Alabama is always a blast! We have family gatherings and eat to our heart's content and our stomach's dismay.
On Christmas morning the presents have been opened. Thanks have been given. The aftermath of wrapping paper scatters the floor and I'm left wanting. Not more presents of course, but some meaning. After all, so much of what we have done has been in response to commercialism. We've also followed long-standing traditions of mistletoe, christmas trees, gift exchange, stockings etc, but what has it meant to us. It's a good excuse to get together, a chance to make merry while it is cold outside. Other than that what is it?
Like any other ceremony or party Christmas is very personalized. Although it's traditions are similar across our culture. It's meaning is not cross-cultural. Some people like to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and I'm one of them. No, it is not actually his birthday. But if you want to celebrate his birth, today would be a good day. Why not cherish his presence every day? I wonder if as many people would "celebrate" his birth absent from the secular traditions and commercial interests attached to Christmas.
What does Christmas mean to you?
In my own personal Christmas I stop to reflect on Jesus and his "grand" entrance to this world. The King coming to us in the form of a small, cold, wet, and naked baby. I stop to think about the providence of God, the protection that he gave his Son, over all of the infirmities and accidents that we worry over ourselves. Enough that he grew into a man and was able to bring the world the Good News of his arrival, the promise of forgiveness, and the sacrifice of his life as atonement for our trespasses. Thanks be to God.
And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2: 10-11
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