Christmas is fast approaching. But instead of rejoicing, and feeling the childlike rush of excitement it brings to some, many feel nothing but apprehension and fear.
I need more money. I need to get these cards in the post. I must buy those presents soon. Raise your hand in shame if you have said one of those things already this year. And I will be the first to admit that I'm concerned about not having bought any Christmas cards, or presents yet.
Yes, we tell ourselves, we know that Christmas isn't really about the food, the decorations, the giving and recieving of presents, or the lovely songs about a nice nativity a long time ago. Christmas is about the biggest gift God could ever give us. For God gave us life, but Christ gave us eternity. Now where did I put those envelopes?
It's all very well and good saying we know what Christmas is about, as we hum along to carols while wrapping presents. But do we really stop for a few minutes in a month as busy as December to consider the proclamations we make in these songs?
We may stand outside a drafty Tesco with an open door (ha!) singing about a boy who was born 2000 years ago, but do we really think about that at the time? Do we mean it when we say we should worship him? Or are we preoccupied, anticipating the nice warm hot chocolate we can drink when we get home? I'm not perfect, and I've felt that way on a few occasions. Ok, whenever I go carolling, really. I moan, and grumble about it, saying that I'm losing my voice, or that it's freezing. But in reality, it could be worse.
I've been offered no less than four loans this week, via email. All of them using Christmas as a marketing ploy. Because, if you can't afford Christmas, you are a Scrooge. At least, that's what the media tells us. So get a loan. Then you can have a big Christmas. Don't worry now that you won't be able to pay it back before this time next year. Life is for living.
Too right. Life IS for living. Living for God, and like God. And I don't think carpentry paid too well, if I'm honest. I don't think turkeys are native to Jerusalem, or that the Christmas cracker is a trademark of Bethlehem. In short, I don't believe that Jesus celebrated his own birthday with quite the flair we do these days.
In fact, I think we may have commercialised Christmas, just a tad.
We complain that it gets earlier every year, yet we still don't have enough time to do all the 'necessary' Christmas tasks we create for ourselves. I wonder, if we took the time we spend complaining at Christmas, and used it for the shopping, or the sending of cards, would we have a bit of extra time on our hands?
We are so busy complaining, that sometimes, Christmas really doesn't feel all that much like Christmas.
I need more money. I need to get these cards in the post. I must buy those presents soon. Raise your hand in shame if you have said one of those things already this year. And I will be the first to admit that I'm concerned about not having bought any Christmas cards, or presents yet.
Yes, we tell ourselves, we know that Christmas isn't really about the food, the decorations, the giving and recieving of presents, or the lovely songs about a nice nativity a long time ago. Christmas is about the biggest gift God could ever give us. For God gave us life, but Christ gave us eternity. Now where did I put those envelopes?
It's all very well and good saying we know what Christmas is about, as we hum along to carols while wrapping presents. But do we really stop for a few minutes in a month as busy as December to consider the proclamations we make in these songs?
We may stand outside a drafty Tesco with an open door (ha!) singing about a boy who was born 2000 years ago, but do we really think about that at the time? Do we mean it when we say we should worship him? Or are we preoccupied, anticipating the nice warm hot chocolate we can drink when we get home? I'm not perfect, and I've felt that way on a few occasions. Ok, whenever I go carolling, really. I moan, and grumble about it, saying that I'm losing my voice, or that it's freezing. But in reality, it could be worse.
I've been offered no less than four loans this week, via email. All of them using Christmas as a marketing ploy. Because, if you can't afford Christmas, you are a Scrooge. At least, that's what the media tells us. So get a loan. Then you can have a big Christmas. Don't worry now that you won't be able to pay it back before this time next year. Life is for living.
Too right. Life IS for living. Living for God, and like God. And I don't think carpentry paid too well, if I'm honest. I don't think turkeys are native to Jerusalem, or that the Christmas cracker is a trademark of Bethlehem. In short, I don't believe that Jesus celebrated his own birthday with quite the flair we do these days.
In fact, I think we may have commercialised Christmas, just a tad.
We complain that it gets earlier every year, yet we still don't have enough time to do all the 'necessary' Christmas tasks we create for ourselves. I wonder, if we took the time we spend complaining at Christmas, and used it for the shopping, or the sending of cards, would we have a bit of extra time on our hands?
We are so busy complaining, that sometimes, Christmas really doesn't feel all that much like Christmas.
'Oh hush the noise, Ye men of strife,
and hear the Angels sing!'
and hear the Angels sing!'
I think Edmund Hamilton Sears was onto something when he wrote that.
Jesus wasn't born so we would complain about it 2000 years later... So get celebrating!
Jesus wasn't born so we would complain about it 2000 years later... So get celebrating!
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