How was your Christmas?

In my last post I commented on how I wasn't prepared for Christmas. Well, in the final hours of Christmas Eve it happened. It always does. The hustle and bustle of the season goes right up to Christmas Eve and then it happens....silence. It's a beautiful time of reflection that I need - that we all need. Restaurants, shopping malls, and every form of commerce shuts down. There is a subdued hush that sweeps across the city from late Christmas Eve to Christmas morning. Only something as powerful as our Lord's birthday could cause the world to take notice like this. Even non-believers have to admit that it is very powerful to see a big metropolis come to a halt (or at least slow-motion).

It was in this time of "slow-motion" that the Lord opened my eyes to the true meaning of the day. He prepared my heart for His coming the next day (Christmas). All He needed was for me to be still.

A friend of mine reminded me that Christmas is everyday. She's right. We should be celebrating Jesus's birth 365 days a year! I believe if we were to focus more on Christ throughout the year we would be able to slow down and truly appreciate the meaning of Christmas Day instead of trying to "pull off" another spectacular Christmas holiday of presents, food, decorations, and gatherings.

Let's face it, there is a lot of pressure for us to "pull off" Christmas. Last minute preparations and unmet expectations can leave us feeling empty inside after it's all over. It was never suppose to be a grand event (in a physical sense). Simplicity is what it's about. After all, look at the first Christmas: a manger, ox, cattle, and some hay. It doesn't get much simpler than that.

With so much pressure to "pull-off" Christmas I see lots of people who are let down afterwards. It's because they put their hope in something other than Christ for Christmas. I can usually tell who was let down by their response when asked how it was. Here are the most common responses I get when I ask "How was your Christmas?"

1. Nice

2. Uneventful

3. Oh okay (usually w/ a sigh)

4. Good

5. Busy

I wonder if any of these Christmases were simple? Or if they were, was simplicity recognized as a blessing or burden? Christmas is meant to be simple....and merry all at the same time. Merry Christmas.

How was your Christmas?