Early Morning Reflections

It's six o'something in the morning, and my mind wouldn't allow me to sleep even though this is one of those mornings when I could have stayed in bed for a few hours. Since last week I was not able to send out my weekly blog, I thought I would get this one started a little early.

We have a new covering over our world this morning - only a few inches of snow, but enough to change the view as I look out my window. It's dark, but there is just enough light from the nearly full moon, partially hidden by the clouds, to reveal the wonderland beyond the warm confines of my home. I'm sure we will get more today (at least that is what is predicted), but for now it is stopped.

Christmas is almost here. My wife has been busy wrapping presents and getting them sent off to friends and family. More lie of the floor waiting to be tackled in the next few days. The tree is finally upright, but bare. It also leans to the northwest, since I broke the stand in an attempt to get it "straightened." Maybe we'll have to fix that....

I have spent some interesting moments thinking about the Christmas holiday. While we say we celebrate the birth of our Lord, we know that He was not born on this day (most scholars agree that His birth was probably sometime in the fall or maybe in the spring - not much data available to support the December 25th date). There is nothing in the Bible that supports the celebration of the day of His birth (the only thing new that Jesus did ask us to remember was the foot washing service in the upper room and the meal that followed - "Do this in remembrance of Me"), but many Christians today are almost militant in their defense of this day.

What amazes me is how the non-Christians are so intent on not making Christmas a religious holiday - yet if Christmas completely went away, so would the gift-giving and the commercialism that fuels the economy at this time of year. So many businesses that rely on their sales during this season would probably go under, and the economy would be even more bleak than it is right now. If the gift-giving tradition really did come from the example of the Wise Men presenting their gifts to the Christ Child, then without that standard to follow we would have to just keep our money in our wallets and our toys to ourselves....

So how do we make this time of year significant to us and our families and not get sucked into the world's interpretation of this celebration? How can we not get wrapped up in the gifts (pun intended) and find something that is meaningful to extract from the bustle of the season?

I'm not a scholar, nor definitely not one of the "Wise Men," but I would propose this for your consideration: Look to Christ for your example. Christ used the celebration of a wedding to do His first miracle - and he provided for a need that, at that time, they were not able to fill on their own. Do you see someone that has a need during this time of year - a need that they do not have the means to address? It might be something small or large - but do it as Christ would have done. Christ also gave to those who did not deserve. According to the law, the woman who was caught in adultery should have been stoned - but He said "Neither do I condemn you." So give to that person who doesn't deserve it. Maybe it's like filling the stocking with goodies instead of the lump of coal that they deserve.

Finally, give without expecting to get something in return, or make sure that you give something anonymously. As you do that, maybe you could include something that says "I received a gift that I didn't deserve from my Friend Jesus, and He invites me to 'freely give' to others. This gift has no strings attached - it's only given to let you know that Jesus offers you the gift of His love every season of the year - not just at Christmas time. I encourage you to consider accepting that gift into your life today."

Maybe Christmas can have true meaning after all!

God bless you abundantly!