A Different Christmas

 The thing about Christmas celebrations are that they are often deeply rooted in tradition. I love traditions—especially Christmas traditions. I am a sentimental girl at heart and nothing pulls on those heartstrings like the things that make our Christmas unique and special to me and my own family. Just hearing Ray Conniff's version of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" conjures up memories from the time I was a little girl. It's a tradition we still have as a signal that it's time for Christmas festivities to begin.

But sometimes, traditions change. It's hard to part with those we held dear for so long, but life changes, so naturally, traditions change too. And there is good in that mixed with a little sadness as well. And because life changes, we often find ourselves with empty chairs at the Christmas table. Maybe our loved one is spending Christmas somewhere else this year, or maybe they've passed away.

This has been another difficult year for so many. Personally, I have lost friends of mine this year to Covid19, and it's been hard to come to grips with. Families will be celebrating, but with huge, gaping holes in their hearts. Some may not even be able to conjure up a Christmas plan—their pain is too deep. My heart aches for them.

Our own Christmas table has dwindled through the years—some from change, and some from death. And yet as we may feel a sense of disappointment or sadness, we must remember that Christmas isn't about tradition or even who is seated at our table. And while it doesn't necessarily erase the pain or the adjustment we face with change, it does prompt us to reflect on what this season is all about.

When I think of Christmas, what are my first thoughts about? I confess it's so easy to get caught up in the traditions and the commercialization of the holiday. I also confess to love those aspects of Christmas, but they don't touch my heart the way the greater story does—the birth of our Savior that long ago night in a stable in Bethlehem. I've spent perhaps more time reflecting on that story this year than any year prior, and I think one of the reasons is the story remains the same. Nothing about it will ever change, and that's a beautiful thing.

Change is inevitable. People change and life changes. We move on from certain things and never look back. We may change locations or career paths or find ourselves facing family changes. Empty nests and new babies—marriage and sadly even divorce—falling in love and feeling brokenhearted and alone—these are also everyday realities for us. And while some may feel joyful this Christmas season, some are also depressed, discouraged, lonely and heartbroken.

If you're facing some changes you may not feel happy about this season, maybe the unchanging, faithful story of Jesus birth can fill you with joy. His birth is the very hope the world had waited for—the hope for a Savior to rescue and redeem a broken world. That child was the fulfillment of promises made from the beginning of time, and the promise I still hold to for my own redemption. 

Christmas is Jesus—it's not in all the things we try to make it about, even as they may enhance our celebrating. And so whatever your Christmas looks like—different or the same—the reason behind it will never change. She brought forth her newborn Son and called His name JESUS—because He would save His people from sin. That's an unchanging truth worth celebrating with great joy.

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21, ESV)."

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8, ESV).

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it (Numbers 23:19, ESV)?

You First

 Today was my errand running day in a nearby town. I wanted to go to Target, Best Buy, and Bath and Body for those $10.25 3-wick candles. If you're reading this on December 3rd, the sale is still on! Everywhere I went was busy and crowded. I found myself rushing from one place to the next and on my drive home, I felt uptight and a little irritated for no real reason at all. 

That's the worst mood to be in if you're going to have a tailgater bumping along behind you—am I right? It seemed everyone was uptight along with me, and as much as I love the Christmas season, it seems to make us a little short on patience (or is it just me?). I behaved myself and didn't give in to extreme aggravation because the words I heard from a sermon lately rolled right across my heart. Those words were "you first". 

Not easy. Not natural. Not what usually first comes to mind when I feel stressed or under pressure, but there they were, plain as day and meant specifically for me in that moment. Instead of head shaking and cutting looks and maybe even the teensiest bit of slowing down on purpose, I simply heard those words over and over and over again.

This got me thinking about how this phrase should be my posture every day, all the time. A busy line filled with cranky people? Allow the mom with the screaming toddler to go first. One sought after toy of this holiday season sits there staring at you and one other mom that looks menacing and slightly threatening? Politely say, "please—help yourself." The last piece of apple pie all warm and gooey and delicious—give it to the person behind you.

I've got to say, this will need to be a discipline we must continually learn because it asks us to deny ourselves. I don't know about you, but when it comes down to it, I can be pretty selfish—especially to a stranger I know nothing about. But can you imagine how much less stress, and more joy we would feel if we simply chose to serve others by saying, "you first"? 

This posture of serving is one Jesus taught us Himself in the life He displayed for us in Scripture. To the hungry people—He met their need, even though He was surely tired and hungry Himself. To the disciples He loved and spent His days with, He washed their dirty feet. To the towns He visited—although He would be going out of His way for just one person, He went anyway so they could be healed. He taught us the discipline of "you first" by His own example. 

As is my habit, I am often rushing from one thing to another, feeling short of breath from stress as I move through my busier days. These are the moments I'm most likely to display character that is selfish, rather than selfless. I pray that this season—as I enjoy so many things about it, I'll be able to remove hurry from my life and feel more at peace. I pray that I'll be less uptight and more gracious. And that any time I begin to feel irritated from the rush, I'll remember those words once again, preserving me from an attitude that would not please the Lord. "You first". . .that's my Christmas motto.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35, ESV)."

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28, ESV)."

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all (Mark 9:35, ESV)."