manger

I was flipping through radio stations last week and came across Christmas music. Yeah, one whole week before Thanksgiving, even. Why not? Stores have had Christmas items for sale displayed since Labor Day. But it doesn’t feel like Christmas.

Does it take party invitations or Christmas cards arriving? Making lots of plans for gatherings with family to make it feel like Christmas? How about putting up the Christmas tree? Or hanging some lights on the house? Going around and looking at other homes that put up lights? Do these activities make it feel like Christmas?

What if “Christmas” wasn’t a feeling but an attitude?

at·ti·tude

[ˈadəˌt(y)o͞od]

NOUN

a settled way of thinking about someone or something

So using the definition of “attitude,” I should have a settled way of thinking about Christmas. How does one do that? It starts with a healthy view of who Jesus Christ is. Yes, the baby that was born in a manger who we celebrate at Christmas. But that same child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. And he started his public ministry that wound up killing him. That baby one day hung on the cross and died for our sins.

Having the right attitude of who Jesus is, generates the right attitude about Jesus and Christmas. That means you can get excited about Christmas all year long because that is where God’s love began: He loved us so much that He gave us his only son. And ya know, I can “feel” God’s love; therefore, it can feel like Christmas!

Let us look only to Jesus. He is the one who began our faith, and he makes our faith perfect. Jesus suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing. He did this because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.
Heb. 12:2 (ICB)

“Tis the season!” so they say, but for what? Is this the season to spend too much money? Go in debt? Extend ourselves beyond belief? Get so tired and then possibly grouchy? (Like me) Honestly I have found it so difficult this year to quiet my heart and mind to focus on why we do all this crazy stuff we do to so call, “Celebrate Christmas”. Even now my mind is thinking of starting a new “To-Do-List”.

Why can’t I go to a quiet manger right now, and get on bended knee (if it didn’t hurt too much to get ba manger ck up) and to truly worship the King of Kings? When Jesus was born Mary and Joseph didn’t go to one party, but yet their hearts rejoiced, their spirits danced, and their voices were no doubt raised to sing praises to the Christ child. Knowing that this baby was the savior of the world. Can you even begin to imagine the responsibility they had? I’m sure the instructions probably just said, “Love”, and “Handle with Care”.

I think those instructions are perfect for today as well. “Love” and “Handle with Care”. Do this for those you encounter, and especially for the ones who call you family.

May God bless every one of you above all you could ever imagine. (Eph 3:20)

Merry Christmas