When I was a child, one of the longest stretches of time was the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It seemed like Christmas would never get here. Time moved so slowly. The excitement and anticipation were overwhelming and the waiting almost unbearable as everything around us pointed toward Christmas. Added to this heightened sense of anticipation was a sense of awe. Light and lawn displays were bigger than life . . . stores had new toys and more of them … and Santa seemed very real.
Now, years later, those four weeks seem like the shortest of the year, and gone is much of the excitement and anticipation. Instead there is a fatigue that comes from attending yet another holiday party, stress over finding just the right gifts, and concern about over-stretching the end-of-the-year budget. Also gone, is much of the awe. Trees have to be trimmed, and houses decorated, but those light and lawn displays are now just another tick on the checklist that has to be completed and another drain on December finances.
Okay, I don’t want to sound too Bah Humbuggish or cynical. Despite all of these demands, most of us are still able enjoy the season and even focus on the true meaning of Christmas––the birth of our Savior, but perhaps we have lost much of the anticipation and awe that we had as a child, and we have much to be excited about and in awe of. First, let us never forget that on that one night, thousands of years ago, a Holy God chose to enter our world to begin the process of redeeming us. Then even though Christmas is our time to celebrate the birth of the Messiah and Savior, and is the fulfillment of over 40 Old Testament prophecies, Christmas is only the beginning of the story, not the end.
Jesus’s birth led to His death, which led to His resurrection, which will lead to his second coming. So as we celebrate His birth let us still live the rest of the year with childlike anticipation and awe of Christ’s next arrival––His triumphant return.
Now, years later, those four weeks seem like the shortest of the year, and gone is much of the excitement and anticipation. Instead there is a fatigue that comes from attending yet another holiday party, stress over finding just the right gifts, and concern about over-stretching the end-of-the-year budget. Also gone, is much of the awe. Trees have to be trimmed, and houses decorated, but those light and lawn displays are now just another tick on the checklist that has to be completed and another drain on December finances.
Okay, I don’t want to sound too Bah Humbuggish or cynical. Despite all of these demands, most of us are still able enjoy the season and even focus on the true meaning of Christmas––the birth of our Savior, but perhaps we have lost much of the anticipation and awe that we had as a child, and we have much to be excited about and in awe of. First, let us never forget that on that one night, thousands of years ago, a Holy God chose to enter our world to begin the process of redeeming us. Then even though Christmas is our time to celebrate the birth of the Messiah and Savior, and is the fulfillment of over 40 Old Testament prophecies, Christmas is only the beginning of the story, not the end.
Jesus’s birth led to His death, which led to His resurrection, which will lead to his second coming. So as we celebrate His birth let us still live the rest of the year with childlike anticipation and awe of Christ’s next arrival––His triumphant return.
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