Christmas: Celebration or Challenge?
Posted By Mike on November 27, 2007
We’re entering into the Christmas season, no doubt about it. Just walk into any store or watch any tv commercial lately and make no mistake about it – Christmas is here.
Now I love Christmas. I’ve always loved Christmas. I love the smells, the food, the time with family & friends, buying stuff for other people, watching children get into it. I even love the music. And, yes, I get into the reason for Christmas (sorry, I’m tired of “The reason for the season” phrase).
I also love learning something new about Christmas – the birth of the Christ. Each year I ask God to show me something new about the Christmas story – something I haven’t noticed before, something He would like me to learn. I get into reading the prophets and the gospels’ telling of the birth of a baby. . .a special baby. I love reading and hearing how a dad gave his only son for me. . .how a king came to be like me in order to die for me.
I also love to celebrate Christmas. I love to sing Christmas songs. One of my favorites is O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I can’t tell you why, but I love that song. I think it is because the song is itself the core of the gospel: Emmanuel, God with us, rescuing us from the captivity of sin and giving us victory over Satan. There are others I love to sing; those with an upbeat tempo bringing a feeling of celebration to my heart.
But Christmas can also be a source of challenge. For us guys, it poses a special challenge: How do we maintain our feeling of celebration without getting caught up in the commercialization of it all? It’s easy to do, you know? This toy for this child, that toy or game for the other one, something special for your bride and before you know it you’re looking at bills and debt out the wazoo! Then comes “How do we afford them?” And before you know it, your celebration has turned into a challenge.
Don’t get me wrong. I love buying for other people. I especially love watching their eyes when they open one of my gifts and they have that look of surprise and joy all at once. I can’t help it, but I just love that feeling. So, it’s easy for me to get caught up in it as well. It’s really easy for me to give in and get that extra gift or to spend a few extra bucks for the “better” gift. I have to watch myself.
So how do avoid Christmas turning from a celebration to a challenge? Join me in spending some extra time in God’s Word and in prayer this Christmas season. Read the stories of the coming of the Christ. Share them with your children and/or your wife. Spend some time with God in prayer. Ask Him to give you the strength and wisdom to make the right decisions and to say “No” when you need to say “No” and “Yes” when you need to say “Yes.” Ask God to give you a heart of celebration. Ask Him to constantly remind you of what this season is all about.
Christmas can be a very special time of the year for us all. Don’t let our culture and the marketing gurus tell you that in order for you to have a “Merry Christmas” you have to buy this toy ,or this gadget, or this game, or this diamond. I honestly believe your children and your wife will still love you.
So make this year a time of celebration for you and your family. Don’t let that ol’ Grinch, Satan, tell you different.
Enjoy!!
Mike
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