I have a confession to make: I love to record and watch the
cheesy, sappy Hallmark Christmas movies! From what I hear, I am not alone. As I
have watched them this Christmas season, I have noticed that many of them have
children in them who help the main character see the joy and wonder of Christmas
and miracles. Even the ones that don’t have children still focus on the same
spirit – usually the main character has to rediscover this spirit. They often
start out with a hardened or hurt heart, or perhaps they are just too busy to
notice the beauty and wonder of the season. But as the movie progresses, they
are reminded to enjoy the season and look for the joy and wonder in it and to
enjoy family and friends.
I know I need this constant reminder in my own life. I may
not usually have a hardened heart or a love of success and money that has
distracted me, but I can often get caught up in the mundane details of life or
even get distracted by personal desires for comfort and pleasure. But of course,
as believers, our reminder runs much deeper than just a child-like wonder of
Santa and the ‘magic’ of Christmas, but it is the wonder of an awesome God who
sent His only Son to become like us to live as a servant and die a horrible
death to save us from the same fate and give us new life – eternal life. This
beautiful season is to celebrate the greatest love that any of us has ever
known. But the theme of child-like wonder is something very biblical and much
needed in our stressed out, busy lives.
Mark 10:14-15 “Let the little children come to me, and do not
hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you,
anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never
enter it.”
So what does that look like? Well, as is frequent right now,
Lee gives me a perfect example. He loves people; he loves to move and play like
a wild man. He can be so distracted by people and things that it is hard to get
him to eat or sleep. But when his daddy is in the room, he is zeroed in on him.
He wants to be in his arms, doing what he is doing, and receiving proud looks
from Daddy. It is much the same with us. We can get so distracted by this world
– the joys, the hurts, the frustrations, and even the gifts that God gives –
that we lose sight of the One who gives us the very gift of life and a reason to
hope despite difficult circumstances.
Hebrews 12:1 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out
for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured
such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose
heart.”
I have another confession to make. I have certainly been
distracted, frustrated, and tired by this busy season. I have taken my eyes off
of Jesus and let the cares of this world overwhelm me. At times, I have also
been so enamored with the gifts of God – my husband, my precious little boy,
etc. – that I have neglected the giver of them. Perhaps you have had one of
these struggles or another one. This Christmas season, let us look around at all
the gifts God has given us – His beautiful creation, the fun decorations of
Christmas, the gifts we receive, the family we have – and let us praise the Lord
and be outspokenly grateful to Him for His provision. Let us look around with
the wonder of a child to enjoy the simple and grand joys. Let us give to and
love others in the same fashion that God has given to us. Let us delight in the
true reason for the season in our precious Savior laying aside His kingdom, His
comfort, His Father, and more than we could ever imagine to become a tiny,
vulnerable, common baby. He was probably teased and hurt as a child, and we
certainly know He was ultimately rejected by those He came to save. He gave His
life as a ransom for ours, but thankfully, He conquered the grave and rose from
the dead!
Let us fix our eyes on our dear Father and Savior Jesus and
the Holy Spirit. Let us surrender our time in this busy season to be a blessing
to others – to be Jesus to them. Let us thoroughly enjoy our family and friends
and the fun of giving and receiving gifts as well as the food and many other
pleasures of this season, but let us do so with our eyes and lips fixed on
praising and serving our Savior who gave everything for us. I pray a blessed,
relaxing, and wonder-full Christmas for you all, as we serve and praise our
Savior!
--Judith Graham
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