Christmas is about so much more than decked halls, eggnog, and reindeer.
By, Rev. Howard C. Earle, Jr., D.Min.
For as long as I can remember, Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. Every year, my parents would load the car and we would make the 2 ½ hour pilgrimage to their home town of Jacksonville, TX and celebrate Christmas in my paternal grandparents’ home. The looks on their faces when we arrive will forever be etched in my memory. My grandparents didn’t have much materially, but there never was a shortage of joy and love in their home, especially at Christmas time. My “Mother Dear” always had a tree with multiple gifts underneath for me and “Paw-Paw’s” 1,000 watt smile showed his pride and love for his only grandchild.
The anticipation of Christmas was always unpalpable. I remember getting out of school for Christmas break days before Christmas. I could not understand why we weren’t loading the car immediately to head to Mother Dear and Paw-Paw’s. All I could think about was tearing into wrapping paper and opening the latest toys that I had been coveting all year long. Along with the gifts, there would be great food and more memories to be made with other relatives, some whom I hadn’t seen since the previous Christmas. Looking back, I’m not sure what was greater, the joy and excitement of Christmas day or the growing suspense in the days leading up to Christmas.
On occasion I’ve wasted precious seconds considering the foolish notion that Christmas anticipation is the substance of childhood. Preposterous! Blasphemy! I say “Bah Humbug” to all of the Scrooges out there who believe that Christmas is only for kids. As a middle-aged adult I can honestly say, I still have the same Christmas “feels” I had as a child riding in the backseat to Jacksonville. In fact, because I know the true meaning of Christmas, my feelings for and about the season are even richer. My joy and excitement over receiving the latest games and toys has been replaced with a profound sense of gratitude for God’s gift to the world in His choosing to become like us and dwell with us.
Every year I remind myself that Christmas is about so much more than decked halls, eggnog, and reindeer. But it is about expectation and anticipation; so much so, that the Christian calendar dedicates weeks leading up to the celebration of Christ’s birth. Advent, four Sundays before Christmas Day, captures the essence of preparation. Every year I try to connect with the fundamental elements of Christmas; the virgin birth, Bethlehem’s star, three wise men from the east, a crowded inn and empty manger. My anticipation and excitement about Christmas are fueled now by the significance of the elements and symbols of the Christmas story more so than the gifts that may be passed. The older I get, the more appreciative I am of the gift of Immanuel, wrapped in flesh, born in poverty, and accessible to the lowliest. I hang and place decorative lights thinking of God hanging a star to guide wise men from the east. My love for Christmas music inspires thoughts of the angels singing to pronounce the arrival of the Savior of the World. In my feelings of insignificance and inadequacy I’m reminded that the biggest news in the world was not reported first in Herod’s palace, but it was outside of town to lowly shepherds watching their sheep. All these personal connections with the first Christmas only reinforce this for me: the Christmas story is my story.
There are no more car rides to Mother Dear and Paw-Paw’s, but the excitement about Christmas is still there. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to get into the Christmas spirit. If you’ve been told or believe Christmas is for kids, then I guess you will have to be a kid because the last time I checked there was no age limit on who Christ came for. So why not hang lights, put up a tree, or hang ornaments and lights on a plant. Play Christmas music and open your heart to God’s love, peace, and good will. May the excitement of a child on Christmas morning be your experience this year.
