Ready for Christmas

Christmas is quickly approaching.  As a child, I adored the holiday season.  It seemed so magical.  And food was everywhere.  I remember my great-grandmother starting her baking campaign.  You know I was all for it.  The deep freezer would be covered with delicious cakes.  Out would come the bowls of oranges and nuts.  The fancy white Christmas tree would make its debut.  We were ready for Christmas.

As I got older, Christmas changed.  My brother started the tradition of praying before we opened our presents.  He would tell Jesus happy birthday, and then we would indulge in ripping paper off the presents like mad men.  We would go to Christmas morning service sometimes and then make our way back home.  We were ready for Christmas.

Of course, Christmas evolved again as we continued to age.  We began to go back to my great-grandmother’s house for big family Christmas.  We started the tradition of picking a person’s name on Thanksgiving so that you were only responsible for gifting one person on Christmas Day.  Our family was growing in number.  But we made plans to be ready for Christmas.

I wonder what you’re doing to prepare yourself for Christmas for this year.  It’s so easy to forget about Jesus in the holiday hustle and bustle.  I was amazed, and a little offended, by the amount of traffic I encountered this past Thursday night.  I found myself wondering what in the world was going on.  Then, I remembered that people are getting ready for Christmas.

Take time to acknowledge Jesus.  The parties are fun.  The food is terrific.  The gifts bring joy, but they should not ever be the central focus of this season.  We spend so much time making sure that things look right that we can neglect what is right.  For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Let’s get ready for Christmas.  #wepreach