December 18th, 2015
It has been a long while since I have written anything. As we are well into the Christmas season, I find myself looking at what is Christmas? I read or hear people say “Jesus is the reason for the season” or “Keep Christ in Christmas”, but what does that really mean. This season I find myself searching for those answers.
I don’t have the funds to get my girls all the stuff they want. I don’t have the funds to do all the things we have done in the past. I know I should not be sad about that because Christmas is more than the gifts and decorations. I have spent time asking God to show me. I want to Joy and Peace that come with my faith – not the sadness or the “if only”. God is so good at answering our prayers.
He showed me that the stuff of this world is temporary. The toys, the clothes, the latest gaming system – it is all temporary. What is the thing to have now will be tomorrows give aways or trash. 1 John 4:8 says “whoever does not know love does not know God, for God is love.” If we go to John 1:1-5: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” These two verses talk about who Jesus is so if He is love and He is light what does that mean for Christmas?
A few days ago while I was at work, a customer came in and said there was a woman outside in the parking lot who was having trouble breathing but didn’t want anyone to call for an ambulance because she couldn’t afford it. So I went outside to see what I could do to help. I do not know how long I was outside with her, but it turned out what she needed was someone to remind her that she is loved and that God had a purpose for her. She needed someone to show her compassion and encouragement. I don’t believe it was coincidence that I was there. God knew I needed encouragement myself. I needed to be reminded about how good God was and sharing that goodness with someone else just reinforced it.
The most important thing I learned was that Christmas is being the light and love of God to others. That night I brought God’s light into the darkness of that woman’s world and God was able to remind her how much He loved her. I believe there are so very many people out there that could use the love and light of God in their lives. They could use some words of encouragement. As Christians, we are called to share that light with others. To show compassion, to let others know how much they are loved so much by a faithful and loving God who never forsakes us.
So maybe instead of saying “Keep Christ in Christmas” we should be saying “Keep His Love and His Light in Christmas”. Jesus is the reason for the season, but his reason was to bring life and life more abundant to those who believe. He came to show the world grace and compassion. To be a light in a broken world and to share His love with all. So I may not be able to do all the things I would like but I most certainly can do those things that Jesus would like – sharing His Love.