At the Christmas Eve service last night the pastor talked about how last year’s Christmas Eve service seemed like it was only a month ago. I completely agree! This year has been so packed with activities it is hard to believe that it has gone by so quickly.
Monday I went to the retirement home and read Christmas stories to the residents. It is a good group of ladies who come to hear me read. We have been reading The Book of Missionary Heroes, but I wanted to do something special for the ladies because of Christmas. I read Gift of the Magi, Twas the Night Before Christmas, The Elves and the Shoemaker, What Christmas Is as We Grow Older, Luke 2:1-20, and Matthew 1 and 2 (the pertinent parts).
Christmas seems different to me this year. I hear people talk all the time about the “reason for the season.” Of course, as a Christian, I know what is meant. But I have reflected quite a bit on what Christmas is all about for those who do not believe in the truths of the Bible. What is the point of Christmas for them? Obviously it is a festive time for everyone, but it seems that mere festivities would be an empty reason for a holiday. But, I guess it would be like people celebrating Cinco de Mayo in the US who have no idea what the purpose of the celebration is all about (and, no, it is not Mexico’s Independence). You can celebrate someone else’s holiday without really being a part of everything that the holiday means.
I trust that God will use this time to help them reflect on the purpose of the holiday.
May God richly bless you and your family as you celebrate Christmas this year.
I leave you with a great video of the poem, Twas the Night Before Christmas. No sound, but you can figure it out. The better you are with sign language the funnier the story is.