Christmas Wrappings

Jim sat looking at all the crumpled wrapping paper. Christmas was over. The presents that were so lovingly wrapped now looked like a trash heap.

“I think they beat last year’s record,” Jim said.

“What do you mean by that?” his wife asked accusingly.

“Nothing I guess. It’s just that they open them so quickly,” he responded with a touch of sadness.

“Well,” his wife began, “they’re excited. After all, it is Christmas. It only comes once a year. Isn’t this what it is all about?”

Jim didn’t answer. His mind was already somewhere else. This couldn’t be all there was to Christmas. He knew there was more.

When he was younger his parents would take him to church. He heard the stories about the carpenter and his wife. He remembered about the miraculous birth, the shepherds in the fields and the wise men. Right now, his heart was yearning for those stories; stories of hope and love. He wanted to hear the stories of a God who loved so much that He was willing to send his son.

Maybe next year, he thought. Maybe next year we can celebrate the season differently. Perhaps we can make it about more than presents we can’t remember or don’t even need. Jim’s heart began to race. “Yes, that’s it,” he said half audibly.

“What’s it?” his wife asked inquisitively.

“Oh, nothing.”

While Jim’s Christmas season might be over, yours is just beginning. You don’t have to find yourself on Christmas morning wondering “is this all there is?” There is still time to connect with the meaning of Christmas. Each Sunday at church we will be focusing on the themes of hope, peace, joy and love. I also invite you to visit http://www.AdventConspiracy.org to discover other ways to transform your Christmas.

Peace,

David.