Holly and berries. Eggnog with nutmeg. Christmas music. Decorated trees. Presents under the tree. Amazon boxes arriving at the door. Children's laughter and giggles. Games. Family. Fun. Food and Christmas movies!
That is what the holiday season is filled with for many. There are traditions and things people do every year. Some people are more random. Each have their own, special thing that they do, in hopes of making some fun memories for themselves and their families.
Some do the "Elf on the Shelf," some just listen to Michael Buble's Christmas channel on Pandora. Some bake tons of cookies and decorate them with their kids. Some travel across the world for festivities and fun. Some stay home and work hard up until the very minute Christmas dinner is being served. Some miss dinner with their families because of work. Some struggle through Christmas and for some, Christmas is really the most wonderful time of the year.
But what is the real "reason for the season?"
Jesus. He was born in a manger, grew up in a regular household with regular parents and went on to being Jesus, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, our Savior. Our hope. Our help.
Our family likes to sit around the tree with the lights shimmering and the ornaments glowing while we discuss the story of Jesus.
Luke 2: 1-20 (The Message)
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
I think something that always gets me, as a mother, is that so often my kids think of Christmas as a time to get gifts and they want, want, want, want. But we're working on that. We've started a tradition where we give to toys for tots and have the kids pick out a toy that they would like to have, and then give it to someone else. We constantly ask them to make things for each other and we teach them, that when they do get a gift, that the first thing they do is say, "Thank you" and then offer for their siblings to play with them with their new toy. It helps them focus on not being so selfish all the time.
We also have some fun traditions where we go looking at a neighborhood that is decorated a lot for Christmas. Normally it's chilly or even very cold, so we drive around and look at them with some hot chocolate (for the parents) and some juice for the kids! We put some fun, upbeat Christmas music on and enjoy family time. We also go to the Historic Frisco Town Square and look at the lights that are tuned to the beat of Christmas music on the radio.
My husband and I have this little tradition of watching "Home Alone" (all three of them!) and sipping on my hubby's famous hot chocolate and a candy cane dipped in it while we watch. We will often put our little ones to bed early and then settle in for a fun date night at home.
But then there is the not so fun part of Christmas. I have family that I miss a lot and don't get to spend Christmas with because of certain situations that I won't go into here. But it's something that has caused me to be extra tender hearted to those with no place to go for Christmas. Christmas can be a painful time of year for people and I think many would do well to remember that when they're helping others, or see people, or talk with them on the phone. Did you know the holiday season is the most common time of year for suicides? People get low emotionally due to finances, no family, family drama, feelings of deeper rejection when family doesn't have room for them, or want them around, etc. It's a time of year that people are working hard to just make ends meet and sometimes those ends don't meet. There are families that won't have gifts under the tree and won't have a tree with lights on it, or hot chocolate to sip on. There will be those who don't have electricity to turn on Christmas music or money to buy a nice Christmas dinner.
So, when you call that business to pay a bill, or you are calling that business to fix a bill, be kind. When you go to the grocery store, ask the clerk how his/her day is going. When you are at work, smile at that co-worker you really just don't like. When you're shopping for gifts, be kind to the lady shopping next to you. While you're driving down the road, let the person in that has their blinker on, over.
Just be kind. Ask God to give you a soft heart for those around you, no matter how much you're going through or feel overwhelmed with. Your purpose this season is to be the joy to someone else's holiday season. Be cheerful. Your purpose is to be kind and loving. That is what everyone is called to.
What are some of your favourite traditions and fun things you do with your family? Sound off in the comment section below! I want to hear them!
Have a wonderful, beautiful holiday season!
From my family to yours! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Feliz Navidad!
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