so i have these thoughts about Christmas....but i haven't really ever put them down in writing....but now that i have a "place" to put them down in writing, here goes...
my main thought is that Christmas points to Jesus whether people realize it or not. of course, there's the obvious - it really is a celebration because Jesus was born. so whether people acknowledge the fact or not isn't altogether relevant....they are still celebrating Him. also, in alot of ways, people treat others with more kindness and love and christ-like ness during the Christmas season as compared to the "rest of the year." so good is happening on earth - and every good and perfect gift can be traced back to God...so, again, whether it is a conscious effort to honor God and whether or not He gets the credit isn't altogether relevant. the fruit of the spirit - His spirit - is more alive and recognizable during December (or so it seems to me!).
my other main thought is that we live at Christmastime how i think we might should be living all year round. i'm not talking about the hustle and bustle or the "stressful schedule"....not talking about the spending too much money on stuff that people don't really need - or giving simply for giving's sake....not talking about the stress that so many place upon themselves and their family....
i'm talking about the get togethers and celebrations and parties that foster community. i'm talking about our homes being more lit up (and more welcoming!). i'm talking about old traditions being carried out and new traditions being established. i'm talking about music and singing - there's a whole genre of music dedicated to this season....songs that bring people together and so many songs that honor God in a terrific way. i'm talking about giving....(again, not the americanized commercialized ughh giving that categorizes the average person's christmas) -- the thinking of others and being generous and wanting to bless them giving. and mail!! oh the mail!! getting the mail in december is definitely in my list of top 10 favorite things to do. i love seeing pictures of families that God has knit together...i love reading the Christmas updates and hearing what God is up to in the lives of my family and friends. somehow the body of Christ seems more unified through the sending and receiving of christmas cards!! (and then it's a neat way to pray for everyone throughout the year as we have them in a basket in our dining room and rotate through them, praying for each family for a few days....maybe that's where the feeling of being more unified really comes in...).
so now that i'm writing this stuff down i feel like it's been much better in my head the past few years...and i'm tempted to leave it there. oh well. tis the season to be vulnerable and real. always.
i'm praying that the Christmas season will last a lot longer in the cash house this year....praying that we'll be as intentional from january to november as we have been this december. praying that our home would be welcoming....our giving generous....our singing joyful....our lives focused on Him...
