Thoughts For The Day

Ever since I became a Christian, Christmas feels weird to me. It’s like every time the Christmas decorations come out my thoughts start tying themselves in knots, like what is this really about? Santa and the elves and Christmas carols and songs. Baby Jesus, gift giving, and the ‘Christmas spirit.’

Last year, I spent about two hours googling nativity sets. I wanted some kind of decoration that would put the Christ back into Christmas. Then my husband finally dropped enough hints to let me know he had bought me one.

But even with the nativity scene on display, something still isn’t right.

A couple weeks ago in London, I dropped into church for a carol service. I love singing the carols I remember from being a child, now from a different perspective; that it is all true.

I can remember one year going carol singing with my dad and some people from school. The warmth and joy we felt going door to door, singing, and feeling Christmassy. It comes back to me now.

Another time dropping by spontaneously to sing carols at the house of my parent’s friend’s parents. It was Christmas eve, and we children were filled in excitement. Nothing was better than opening a stocking filled with presents in the early hours of the morning.

I grew up in a non-Christian family, so Jesus was on the outskirts. There at the Christmas carol service, the nativity play, or on some of the cards we received.

But really it was simply about presents, good food, and drink, family, and a fun packed schedule on TV.

The thing is, it doesn’t really feel much different to me as a Christian.

At home we’ve been reading a devotional; a book that each day has a Bible verse and a reflection on the Christmas story. I love that Christmas is a time that more people’s ears are willing and open to hear about Jesus.

And yet, it gnaws at me, Jesus never said anything about us celebrating his birthday.

We linger in the stable, and yet the story really gets going with Jesus as an adult beginning his ministry of healing and miracles. What’s more amazing is that the story is all true.

There are those that say that Christmas is pagan. There are those that say that people are going to hell for putting up a Christmas tree. There’s some absolutely bonkers stuff being shared online by those who get their Bible teaching from tiktok videos rather than real life churches.

Good food and drink, kindness, warmth and generosity, giving gifts just as we are made in the image of a God who loves to give good gifts. What’s not to love?

And yet still, Christmas feels complicated to me, and I’m not entirely sure why.

But it is an opportunity, when non-believing friends and family can’t deny ‘the reason for the season,’ even if Jesus was never really born on Christmas day, it is still an chance to talk about him, and have listening ears.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9.6

It never ceases to amaze me that these words were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Even non-believing historians agree on that.

Today is an odd day, where billions of non-believers celebrate a son they don’t believe in. Yet he stands on the outskirts, as a billion houses are filled with discarded wrapping paper, and people munch on chocolates, and children get excited about the latest toy.

The greatest gift ever given, is the reason, the thin thread we find it hard to keep a hold on, in a day of distraction.

This afternoon I will try to find the time to pick up my bible, and read beyond the baby in the manger, to the adult he becomes, to the times we live in now, closer and closer to his return.

So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. - Matthew 24:33