Christmas is the holiday we celebrate the birth of Christ. While there are all kinds of debates on the actual birthday of Jesus, we know that December 25 was selected by Christians around 400CE. Prior to that time, there was much debate on the actual birthday of Jesus(much like today in scholarly circles), and a host of arguments over when to celebrate the day of his birth. Nonetheless, we do celebrate Christmas on December 25 today-although many of us have forgotten why we celebrate Christmas and what it was intended to remind us of.
Christians celebrate Christmas for one very special reason-it is a day to celebrate and honor the birth of Jesus, who became man, left heavenly realms to walk this Earth perfectly and pay the price for our sins. He came to save each one of us and that warrants celebration! We are called to remember that this son of God-fully God, part of the one true triune God-became also fully human for us. He was born to a woman.
Jesus suffered all the same things that every human suffers; from the trauma of birth, to temptations, to betrayal by loved ones, anger, frustration, grief, and physical torture of his death. He felt happiness, joy and contentment. Jesus experienced life as we do, with two very notable differences; he did it perfectly, without sin, and he had a continual relationship with God that defined him. We all to often forget our relationship with God, especially when we are busy trying to make the house perfect, find the perfect gift, or putting the finishing touches on the holiday preparations.
I wonder during all the chaos and frenzy on black Friday (which actually started on Thanksgiving Thursday), how many people were in prayer to God. I don't mean "God please let me get that toy before they sell the last one", I mean true communication with God. How many of those shoppers, crazed by the need to get the perfect trinket, stopped to help someone else? How many people reacted with patience and were filled with joy and happiness as they shopped, even when the gift they wanted was sold out? My guess is that there were a few, but not many.
I find it ironic that after so many people have spent the past 30 days giving thanks for all they have, and even sitting down as a family to eat a feast and be thankful for all the blessings in their life, they are willing to mow down another person or get into a fight, for the next innovation, the next best gift! Just a few short hours ago, they were sitting around a table, saying a prayer of thanks, talking about how blessed they are! How quickly we can forget how blessed we are.
So, is it wrong to purchase gifts for others at Christmas? There is some debate on whether Christians should celebrate Christmas at all, but most of the debate stems from the commercialism of Christmas and the fact that many of our beloved traditions originated with Pagan traditions. I don't see this as a huge problem, but it is one that Christians need to be aware of. We are called to "Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name, make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted" (Isaiah12:4). Pagan traditions were incorporated to entice Pagans, make them more comfortable to explore Christianity-in a sense, Christians of old, met their counterparts where they were.
We should celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we must remember just that; we are celebrating the birth of Jesus. We are not celebrating our parents, our sons and daughters, our family and friends. We celebrate with them, not them. A gift is just a material trinket, nothing more.
Christmas is not just about the gifts though. When the average person thinks of Christmas and the preparations that go into it, they think of the tree, the gifts, the meal, friends and family and for some, church services. Not to mention all the treats-cookies, candy canes, cakes, breads, chocolates, and so on fly off the shelves and out of the ovens of millions of people this season. I am guilty of it all too. I love Christmas-always have, with the notable exception of a period of about 6 years which I avoided the holiday like it was infected with a plague! Someday, I may share why this was, but for today, it is not important.
What is important is that I do partake of Christmas like everyone else. I love Christmas music, baking, making the house look like the Northwoods crept in and took over. I love it all! It's not wrong to celebrate Christmas, we need to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We also need to keep in mind, at all times what the meaning of Christmas is. We should be patient and loving towards others.
We are called by Christ to take care of one another. Matthew tells us that when Jesus comes back in all his glory he will say "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:35-36, 40). During this time of excess and giving to our loved ones, we must not forget the ones who are in need.
There are millions of people all around the world who need food, shelter, protection, safety. They are homeless, persecuted, mentally or physically ill, scared, lonely, and forgotten. I have seen people walk past a homeless person as if they were not there, and it broke my heart. As many of us celebrate, laugh and shop, we need to remember to help those who need it. It's important that we reach out to others, remembering that while we may not personally understand what they are going through, we are called to love and help. We can, and should, donate our time, treasure and talents to make the celebration of Christs birth something that everyone can be joyous about.
If we took time to reach out in love to others who need it, how much would it change the world? One kind gesture can make all the difference to one person, one family. Multiply that by the number of wide eyed and crazed consumers out on Black Friday-now we are spreading the message of Christ. He came to save us all. Each one of us, not just those of us who can put on a pretty face and fancy clothes.
What will you do this holiday season to make a difference to someone? How can you share the true meaning of Christs birth with others? I guarantee, if you reach out to those less fortunate (wherever they are), you will feel the reward in your heart.
When we reach out and take care of others, we have the opportunity to teach our children a valuable life lesson. Our children will learn just how blessed they are in daily life, even if they don't have every gadget that the other kids at school have. They will learn how to feel empathy and compassion, how to care for others, and occasionally put others before themselves. They will learn that true joy comes from doing for others, not having others do for you. Perhaps most importantly, they will learn that those many of society consider "untouchable" or as less than human, are actually people with the same feelings as them.
We have the opportunity to teach our children how to do simple small things that make a difference in the world. If our attitudes change, suddenly so do our thoughts, behaviors and actions. We can give our children the skills to change the world- and we should.
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