This year has been difficult to feel the “Christmas Spirit.” I have my tiny tree up in my room with white lights strung about. I have a cute nativity snow globe and a few snowmen scattered around and I will sing along to about any Christmas song I hear, but I don’t feel the wonder that I used to feel about Christmas. I used to feel anticipation every morning when I woke up during December knowing that this was a magical time of year. Wrapping gifts, baking cookies, wearing sweaters of cats in Santa hats all contributed to the bubbling emotion I could hardly contain of the wonder and joy of the season. This year I’ve eaten about two dozen Christmas cookies, worn Christmas socks everyday for a week and even exchanged a few gifts already and I’m missing the wonder. I feel as if I am scraping the bottom of the bowl trying to piece together some magical combination to find Christmas joy, but by all of my efforts I’m coming up short.
Maybe you feel the same way this year. I know many of my friends feel the same way. This December we haven’t even had a chance of snow yet in Southeast Missouri, finals are hanging over our heads and to be honest most of our bank accounts are empty enough that even gifts from Goodwill have a price limit on them. We have seen The Grinch or Elf two or three times in lieu of doing homework like we should. We have already eaten a dozen candy canes and are running out of things to take to white elephant gift exchanges. There’s no sparkle on campus. There is no buzz in the air. That whole “people passing, meeting smile after smile” line from a popular holiday song is more myth than truth right now.
While we could all just shuffle along and not stop and think about where the wonder has gone, I don’t want us to miss it. It was so exciting as a child during December and even parts of November about Christmas and I want to get back to it. On December 25 thousands of people around the world are going to stop and remember and rejoice in the birth of a Jewish baby born over 2000 years ago. Many people will be opening up their Bibles to Luke before opening up stockings to remember the real reason of Christmas.
Perhaps this is why we’ve lost some wonder. Have we forgotten the true meaning of Christmas? Have we forgotten what Linus has been sharing with viewers since 1965?
The birth of a Savior. The Prince of Peace come to the earth in flesh. Wow. This is something to find wonder over. This perfect gift of salvation is something worth being amazed about. Mary said it perfectly, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” Luke 1:46.
Don’t miss the wonder of the season. Christ came to earth as a humble child born in a lowly manger for you and for me. Fight to see the wonder this year. Spend time reading the story of our Lord and the life that he lived on this earth. Sing a carol, eat cookies and trim the tree. Love those around you and rejoice in our Mighty God. Take time to enjoy the wonder of the most wonderful time of the year resting in John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Come let us adore, come let us worship, come let us wonder.
