It was the first day back to school after Christmas vacation and the teacher was not ready for school and was not overly prepared. She used a good bit of the morning by going around the room and asking each child to tell how he or she spent Christmas.

The first boy said, “Well, we are Catholics and we went to midnight Mass and came home and went right to bed. The next morning we had a big breakfast and sat around the Christmas tree and opened all our presents.”

The second child then told her experience. “We are United Methodists but we did about the same thing. We went to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and came home and went to bed We had a big Christmas breakfast and then opened all our presents.”

The third child then said, “Well, we aren’t Christians. But we did have a big breakfast and opened presents around the tree. Then we all got into the car and went downtown to my dad’s department store. He showed us all the empty shelves. He showed us all the money. Then we made a circle around the cash register, joined hands, and sang, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’.”

Tags: Christmas, greed

At dinner one evening Tommy misbehaved. His father, always the strict disciplinarian, reprimanded him saying, “Tommy, if you do not behave you will be sent to your room!” Tommy did not pay attention. Ordered from the room he heard his father’s last words, “And there will be no more food for you tonight!”

Later, in bed, Tommy’s thoughts of his behavior began to bother him. He was hungry. He couldn’t remember ever having felt more alone or alienated. He began to cry. Then he heard a noise on the stairs. Footsteps came closer to his room. His door opened and his father came in. Closing the door he came over to Tommy’s bed and said, “I love you, son, and I’ve come to spend the night with you.”

Now, isn’t that a great illustration of what Christmas is all about? God coming to spend the night with us.

Tags: Christmas, incarnation

There was a small voice that penetrated the stillness of the night. It came from the bedroom across the hall. “Daddy, I’m scared!” Out of his groggy, fuzzy state, the father responded with, “Honey, don’t be afraid, Daddy’s right across the hall.”

After a very brief pause the little voice was heard again, “I’m still scared.” Always quick with an insight, Dad responded, “You don’t need to be afraid. God is with you. God loves you.” This time the pause is longer…but the voice returned, “I don’t care about God, Daddy. I want someone with skin!”

Perhaps the logic of the little boy is exactly the reason God saw the necessity of sending His Son with skin on; so we could relate to God on our terms. So we could see God’s care right before our eyes. And so He could understand what we feel, as well. That’s the Incarnation: Someone with skin on.

Tags: Christmas, incarnation

Does Christmas stress you? I don’t think its the birth of Christ that adds stress to our lives, its everthing else we allow to creep in. Two days ago I took a vacation day to catch up on my Christmas shopping and wrapping and catch up on some things around my study. I was so engrossed in taking care of those things I forgot to Blog that day!

Today I went into the Lab at the hospital for what I thought was a simple blood test. After they drew my blood they told me to wait in the lobby. Fifteen minutes later they gave me some fruit punch (pretty well pure syrup) and told me to rest for two hours!!!, and they would then draw blood again (testing for pre-diabetes). I was bored out of my gord. That wasted pretty well my entire morning.

By the time I finally got into the office, I was already a day and a half short this week and needed to get ready for the weekend. It wasn’t Christmas that stressed me out, but all things added on top of Christmas.

So, if we want to blame the reason I haven’t added a Blog for two days on Christmas, we can. But I won’t, because God’s design for Christmas is peace on earth, not chaos. God, help me rest in You.

How are you doing with Christmas stress?

Tags: Christmas

Christmas Eve! These verses from the Christmas story come to mind: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them” (Luke 2:8-9). We don’t know what time of day Jesus was born, but we do know the time the angel appeared to announce His birth: “at night”.

I think the significance of this is that we live in a dark, ungodly world. Jesus is the Light of the World clouded in darkness. The shepherds had no problem seeing the angel in the dark, so it must have been enlightened, as well.

When we’ve made room for Jesus, the whole world around us becomes enlightened because of the light that resides within us. Have an enlightened Christmas.

Tags: Christmas, darkness, light

Christmas customs change from generation to generation. I’ve seen quite a change in customs from the 1950s when I grew up to today. So I asked my Dad a couple of years ago how they celebrated Christmas when he was a child (latter 1920s, prior to the Great Depression). The economy was booming and my grandfather was proprietor of Diehl’s Jewelry Store in Butler, so they were better off than many in a small town.

He told me they set up a small evergreen tree on a table in the living room, and decorated it with tinsel. On Christmas morning he found fruit and nuts in his stocking near the tree and one gift, usually an item of clothing.

Perhaps a little simplicity around our Christmas celebrations today wouldn’t be so bad. Perhaps the generation who had won World War II and felt invincible spoiled its children with an ever increasing array of gifts that the next generation can never keep up with. Perhaps the gifts that used to come with joy from love, now come with a load of debt from a sense of duty.

Does that mound of guilt-reducing gifts really enhance Christmas joy? Do our children really appreciate us more for it? I think I’ll try to simplify Christmas this year.

Tags: Christmas, gifts, simplify