What Christmas means to me

I don't care that Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25, 0 AD. To me, that isn't what Christmas is all about. It's not a birthday party, where we bring out a cake and approximately 2010 candles; we don't decorate the room with festive banners, and play pin the tail on the sheep. In fact, did you know that the early Church frowned on celebrating birthdays? Origen, a great theologian of the early Church, in one of his commentaries wrote: "Some one of those before us has observed what is written in Genesis about the birthday of Pharaoh, and has told that the worthless man who loves things connected with birth keeps birthday festivals; and we, taking this suggestion from him, find in no Scripture that a birthday was kept by a righteous man." I know it's hard to understand that old writing, but basically it's saying, only bad men celebrate birthdays. He said to look as an example the Pharaoh and Herod. He also went on to further say, no righteous man in the Bible ever celebrated a birthday. I could never make such a bold statement, since I'm not Bible scholar, but apparently that's all he did, study the Bible even in its original Hebrew.

Nope, for me Christmas isn't about birthdays, keeping score of how old Jesus was. To me, Christmas is about honoring Jesus, and remembering the time He abased himself and became mortal. To me, Christmas is tightly intertwined with Easter, the two bookends of my salvation. One cannot exist without the other. Christmas is the celebration of the beginning of grace, of forgiveness. Yes, I still indulge in all the trappings of Christmas, giving gifts to my family, singing carols, go to Christmas concerts. It's fun, and a good diversion from the rest of the mundane, which is my life. I still participate in my Church's Christmas program, even if it is only for entertainment. However, I always remember that Christmas isn't just a festival celebrated once a year. It's in my heart 24/7/365. It's a mindset, that Heaven came down, and Glory filled my soul.

What kind of gifts are you expecting? For me, I want good health for my family. I want my entire family to stay strong with the Lord. I wouldn't mind more of them reading my blog, but only God can make the impossible, possible :) So, have some eggnog, relax with your family and friends, forget about work. Click on all the links I've provided over this past year, I promise you'll find at least one thing to enjoy. I'm going to be on vacation next week, so you'll prolly not hear from me till Next Year. Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year everyone! Peace.