The Christmas season is in full swing. It’s eleven days until the big day. Decorations are up everywhere, shopping plaza’s are packed out, and Christmas music engulfs you wherever you may go.
But this year is different for me.
I’m not studying for finals, I’m not packing up to head home for a month between semesters, I’m not attending a different Christmas party every night, I’m not surrounded by the Christmas themed student activities.
College kind of forced me to be more full of the classic Christmas feelings and created many distractions.
Well, I’m not in college anymore and inevitably, like many other things, this Christmas season feels different.
My focus has shifted to what Christmas should be all about. This Christmas season is all about Christ. I’ve been a Christian since I was four so it may seem odd that this is the first season where Christmas is all about Christ. But for the first time in a long time I don’t have Christmas decorations up in my apartment, I haven’t gone to a Christmas party, and my shopping was on a much smaller scale this year, and I’ve only watched Elf once so far. It’s been stripped down to the true meaning of Christmas.
Christ loves me so much that he sent His only son to this awful and terrible earth to die on the cross. For me. Maybe it’s because I’m in a place in my life to do a lot of thinking or whatever but the fact that Christ loves me and knows me and desires for me to know Him is a crazy and beautiful thought. I don’t need Santa and all this commercialized stuff to distract me from that incredible idea. Seriously, it doesn’t make sense but it’s true and I have no words to describe it.
In this stressful and to-do driven life just stop for one second and notice the Prince of Peace in your life. Acknowledge the fact that Immanuel – God with us is really here with you. It just blows my mind to really stop and think about it.
One of the best Christmas messages that relates to everyday life was preached this past Sunday at my church. If you have a little time to listen to it you totally should. http://graceincranberry.org/ShopTilYouDropWeek1.asp
Those are my ramblings.
Merry Christmas.
