Thursday, December 24, 2009

I Almost Missed It...

Christmas, that is. Because of all the wedding planning and the impending move, I didn't even bother to put up Christmas decorations. My classroom? It would have remained undecorated if some of the seniors on the "CCC" (Christmas Cheer Committee) hadn't volunteered to do it. I think I went Christmas shopping for the first time on Saturday. December 19th, that is.

But that isn't what I mean. I almost missed Christmas. What it really means.

My students have heard me often enough get on my soapbox about the commercialism of Christmas and the disgust over what our society has made it. It's like we have this month-long extravaganza celebration, with all the decorating, songs, shopping, parties, cantatas - all for what was supposed to be a commemoration of Jesus' birthday - and it is like we have forgotten to invite Him to all the festivities! And in some cases, not even forgotten, but He is not even allowed to come!

Did we forget it is called CHRISTmas for a reason???

But I digress (the soapbox again). I almost missed it. I think this morning is maybe the first time I had a chance to really reflect on why we are celebrating. I got up to do my quiet time and was ready to rush through it because I had to get to Stop N Shop, Costco, Ulta, Dollar Tree, Gap Outlet...

Then I felt this gentle nudge in my soul to just slow down. Stop. Reflect. I was becoming all of the people I get so angry with - the ones who are doing all the celebrating and not keeping the focus on why. Or I should say Who, really.

Jesus.

God's perfect gift to a humanity doomed to bondage. Sin. Evil. Themselves. He came...not just to stay a baby. That was only the start. He came to be a Savior. For a creation He loved dearly and who desperately needed saving. Not just for 'a creation' but for me. I was doomed to bondage. Sin. Evil. Myself. I desperately needed saving.

And He did it. He came. Gave up heaven and shrunk Himself to fit inside human skin. To die a horrific death so I could be free from bondage. Sin. Evil. Myself. To have friendship with God. So I could be a clean, pure daughter in right-standing before her Daddy. Forever.

That is the miracle we should be celebrating. What kind of God does this??? Not on a whim but as a result of an intricately, meticulously designed plan, one invented even before light appeared on the horizon of the universe and the first bite of the apple was taken.

Because He saw me. He saw you. And to Him, we were worth it.

"Long lay the world, in sin and error pining
Til He appeared, and the soul felt its worth..."


"A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn..
."

Oh, what an amazing day we are celebrating. What an amazing God. He came. "Immanuel." God with us. God with us still.



(Picture and lyric inspiration borrowed from Or So She Says)

9 comments:

  1. Lovely, inspiring Christmas post. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Visiting from the SITS link-up :)

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  2. I found your blog thru your sister's, blessings to you as you speak of the real meaning of Christmas. I'd like to personally invite you to my Bible Study Blog, found on my sidebar. "a day in the life". Please come visit if you can. I wrote about Extravagant Sacrifice.
    Blessings to you this Christmas!
    Debra

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  3. Stopping by from SITS and wishing you a MERRY CHRISTMAS :)!!!!

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  4. God bless you and Merry Christmas! I love to say THOSE words - not Happy Holidays. For me it wouldn't be a favorite holiday without Jesus!

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  5. Hey - coming back over from my blog, via SITS (love them!) I just learned about how the christmas tree was originally a pagan thing, borrowed by the Christians. The history and truth behind the holiday as you post is always so interesting, and so good to remember and be aware of, to help deflect the superficiality of the consumerism. And no, I haven't figured out what I'm going to do yet. :D

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  6. Stopping by from SITS. Hope your Christmas was wonderful. I love finding other Christian bloggers! I am looking forward to following your blog! Come follow mine if you'd like!

    http://sidac.blogspot.com

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  7. We didn't really do xmas this year. If no one had told me it woulda been just another day for me. Hope you had a great holiday though :D

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  8. Such a great post. It's true that we tend to get so caught up in all the stuff we have to do that we don't take enough time to reflect on the real reason for Christmas. I got to have an amazing experience this year that helped me experience what it's all about. If you feel like reading it, you can here: http://www.apeekatkarensworld.com/2009/12/best-christmas-gift.html

    But, honestly. Don't feel like you have to. I normally never link to my posts in comments. It just kind of seemed to fit with what you were talking about.

    I was just stopping in from SITS to say hello!

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  9. Beautiful post. One of my blog friends wrote a book about wedding planning that is neat. Stopping in from SITS and I'll come back to visit.

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