For many of us, Christmas season is one of the best times of the entire year.
Christmas is a time for lights and decorations to brighten up everywhere we go, a time for cheerful holiday music to fill up our holiday spirits. It’s a time for ugly Christmas sweater parties, ice skating, and trips to the mall for present shopping. Gingerbread men and peppermint hot chocolate appear in endless supply, and Christmas movie marathons accompany cozy snuggling next to a crackling fire.
It’s moments like these that we get to spend with friends and family, creating enjoyable memories together. A magical time of year, indeed.
But it seems to me that we’re missing the point.
The holiday itself has become so Americanized that it has almost lost its original value in its entirety. Regardless of the overwhelming population that celebrates Christmas as a secular holiday, there is no denying that it is, in fact, a religious holiday. Christ is literally in its name.
And although most people have at least some knowledge of the Christmas story, it tends to be misunderstood or overshadowed by the hype of everything else.
A quick shout out to God on Christmas day, quoting a bible verse on social media, or claims of being blessed after opening your myriad presents does not do it any justice.
Christmas is celebrating the greatest gift that we have ever received, and it captures the most incredible act of love that we could ever imagine. The nativity story of Jesus being born in a stable and laid in a manger is not the extent of the holiday.
God sent his son to earth as a baby in the most humble and unlikely terms—through an unwed, low-status, virgin girl who was forced to travel hundreds of miles on a donkey with her fiancé for a census. Then she gave birth to him in an unclean stable amidst dirty farm animals because there was no room in the inn. Its reality was not that impressive. That’s not something you realize when you listen to the songs or see the cute little nativity sets with the smiling characters.
But the whole point is that Jesus was here on earth, and he came to us like this. He could have come as lineage to royalty and been brought up as a King in all of his riches, but he didn’t. He was sent in this specific position so that he could fulfill his purpose and be killed on the cross for our sins, as one who is perfect and blameless.
This is the real story of Christmas. We were given this gift of grace, one which we didn’t deserve. One that allows us to have hope in eternal life, regardless of our own imperfections.
Yet, it has now become one of Santa Claus and presents. Somewhere along the line, its real intent was distorted. While the traditions that accompany this season are undeniably enjoyable, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the fun of things.
So whether the Christmas story is something you believe or not, it’s important to recognize the real focus of what this holiday is centered around. Why else should you even partake in it?
Christmas shouldn't be made into an entirely new celebration for those who ignore this belief, completely separated from the religious aspect of it. That would be as if everyone started celebrating Hanukkah too, just to light the menorah and get more presents. It just doesn't make sense.
With that in mind, have a Merry CHRISTmas!
