Christmas to Me

Christmas is no respector of persons. It comes and goes no matter what journey you are on. It doesn’t care if your struggling. It’s not sensitive to your sorrow. It’s doesn’t empathize with your depression or anxiety. It pressures you to spend even if you’re skint. It taunts you to eat sugar and other junk when you’re trying to take care of your health. Its superficial, upbeat, happiness is an intruder in your cardboard box shelter under the train tracks. Of course I’m talking about the worlds shallow, materialistic, misguided Christmas. The one that’s now called Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.

Make no mistake, true Christmas recognizes your struggle, your journey and your situation all too well. In fact that is what true Christmas is all about. I mean, the way we believers in Christ are supposed to celebrate Christmas is totally about keeping Christ in Christmas because He is what it is all about. And Christ recognizes our journey and our situation all too well. In fact that is why He came to earth in a manger in the first place…so He could identify with us and be with us. Emmanuel means God with us. Mankind had been waiting for the arrival of a saviour….well….forever. Oddly, when He arrived they didn’t even recognize Him. But He became flesh so He could become acquainted with grief. So He could know our sorrows. So He could dwell among us. And He surely did and does.

That first Christmas was not glamourous at all. There were no magical, twinkling or spectacular light displays to ooh and awe at. Spruce Meadows hadn’t been built yet. There were no shopping malls for the three kings to stop and pick up some Black Friday gift deals for the baby (or themselves) on the way to see the baby. No Christmas markets brimming with thoughtful, unique homemade treasures or real reindeer on display.  I’m pretty sure nothing is mentioned about bringing presents for Mary and Joseph. Maybe that’s where we got the notion that Christmas is for children. Im sure the shepherds didn’t go out and purchase a new and spectacular outfit to be seen in. The kings most likely didn’t have their perfume gift wrapped. And nobody considered stopping at Starbucks for a Peppermint mocha latte for the long journey. I’m sure they passed oodles of trees without even one thought of decking them with tinsel and ornaments. And when they arrived at the humble stable with no decorations or christmas baking for their holiday enjoyment they were not phased at all because…This wasn’t and isn’t what it was all about.

I’ll be the first to admit that I have drunk the worlds Christmas kool-aid. I absolutely love the way we do Christmas these days. I love all of it. I love the lights and thank people (in my head) for putting them up as I drive by. Some of the commercial light displays bring me to tears the first time I see them. There is nothing that brings me more joy than sauntering through the beautifully decorated mall with a Starbucks in hand quietly singing along and shazaming the Christmas tunes playing over the intercom. True confessions: I was among the crackpots that were incensed when Starbucks quit the beautiful red cups. I’m over it! I heard my husband call my Christmas decorating ‘over the top’ when someone came to the door the other night and they commented about my decor. It was favourable btw. And it just isn’t Christmas unless I have one new glitzy garment to wear to all the parties. However this year there is only one party due to tough economic times and unemployment.

This is the first year for a very long time that I can remember, that I haven’t been working. Financially, it’s cramping my style but I’m learning a new way to do Christmas. Using my unemployed days doing other people’s Christmas baking for a fee. And just settling for less and realizing I’m content with what I have. Which really isn’t a sacrifice at all because I have been so blessed. I’ve gotten quite accomplished at blessing myself. I want to try something new. Letting God bless me and using what I have to bless others.

I know a lot of people, just in my circle of friends and influence, that are not so joyous this Christmas as they stare down the barrel of loneliness and separation, illness and impending sorrow, financial struggles, broken relationships and addictions. These realities are closer to that first Christmas than we realize. As soon as the their baby was born outside in a filthy manger,  Mary and Joseph had to flee the country to get Jesus to safety as the King at the time was executing all baby boys because he felt threatened by King Jesus. The stress and fear.  Never mind the social rejection and discrimination that Mary and Joesph suffered because of their divine circumstances. Nobody really ‘got it’. And very often we don’t either.

While it’s perfectly ok to celebrate Christmas in the manner our culture dictates, let’s not get bogged down in the materialistic trappings and totally forget the realities of those less joyous than we. Let’s be Christmas for others. Let’s bring Christ to them and extend his love and understanding. We can do that as believers. In fact we are required to do that.

In my heart of hearts, Christmas has always been about being with those I love the most. There is nothing like family. The family we didn’t choose and the family we did choose. Beyond the gifts, the twinkle lights, the decorations, the delicacies, the music, the parties.. there is family. Family and friends that are like family. I can live without the fluff but I can’t live without these people or Christ’s love. Under one roof, here for each other, sharing, loving, blessing, commiserating, encouraging, praying, supporting. This is Christmas!

God bless us everyone!