Christmas is good news: Christ the Savior is born. Billions around the planet embrace his declaration daily and especially on Christmas Day.
There is more to Christmas Day than the celebration of the birth of Jesus. We utilize the day for family gatherings, gift exchanges, and to eat more than most other times of the year. We get fatter so that on New Year’s Day, we can make another resolution to eat less and exercise more. And we play the Santa Claus game and always hope we can catch a glimpse of him racing through the sky.
A lot goes on at Christmas. Many people spend money they do not have on gifts others may not really want or need. We cram our schedules full of dinners, parties and other appointments that could just as easily be done the first week or two in January. For some reason it seems so much has to be done by Christmas Day.
Christmas is a great time for the little children who do not have many Christmases to compare with the present one. They are mostly looking at today without much regard for the past. This is a perspective we lose as we become adults, especially as we get older. It became impossible for us. If we have any memory left at all we start comparing our Christmases. We remember a special Christmas in the past, a special meal, and special people and the time when everybody was together. We remember when children were younger or when grandparents were still alive. At some point and time on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day these old times seem to haunt us.
Loneliness is common to all of us at some point and time in our lives. We are lonely for those who made us laugh, those who cared for us or those for whom we cared. We get lonely for the simple things that brought us such internal joy.
Today we often try harder to create a magical moment. We spend more, bake more, try to do more when in fact we are trying to fill a vacuum that often is not filled. But we can’t bring back a child, a parent, or a friend who is no longer with us. We will always miss them. That hole in our hearts cannot be filled.
We know by now, the good news that Jesus was born, lived, died and arose from the grave as written in scripture. He came to give us peace, comfort, hope and to fill that cavern in each of our lives. He gives us hope that we will see our loved ones again in a festive way that will far surpass our earthly Christmas celebrations.
Tonight, and this week, may our focus be on Jesus. His joy and love are the reasons we celebrate.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is the author of numerous books, songs and videos. Learn more on YouTube, Amazon and Spotify. He is also the founder of Newburgh Seminary/College, Safe Fresh Water and Keep Our Freedom.