Birthday Celebration

When we celebrate someone’s birthday, what do we do? How do we celebrate?

At many birthday celebrations we tell stories about the person and talk about shared experiences. We toast their strengths and joke about their misadventures. We bring gifts, bake their favorite cake and make a meal they are especially fond of. And we share this joyous occasion with others who know the person.

On December 25^th, and the weeks leading up to it, the world heralds the arrival of Santa Claus, Rudolph, and even the Grinch. However, the real reason Christmas is a special occasion is because it is the day we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Even the name, Christmas, points us to the origins of this holiday—Christ Mass. A mass is a celebration. Thus, Christmas is to be a celebration of Jesus the Christ!

That is NOT how Christmas is portrayed on TV, advertised in stores, or spoken of in various social gatherings. What about in our families? Are we truly celebrating the birth of our Savior on Christmas? What are some ways that we can help ourselves and others focus on the real “reason for the season? Here are a few suggestions:

*During the weeks leading up to Christmas, when conversations about “What do you want for Christmas?” abound, talk about “gifts” we could give Jesus in honor of His birthday. Perhaps we could buy presents for children in needy families, pray daily for those who don’t know Jesus, re-commit our lives to living more faithfully for Jesus, visit those in nursing homes, take cookies to a lonely neighbor, etc.

*Go see the local live nativity, watch the community plays, and listen to the area concerts centered on the real meaning of Christmas.

*Along with your other Christmas decor, be sure to set up a nativity (or two or three) in your home as a visual reminder. On Christmas morning, talk about each person represented by the figurines in the creche and how they related to Jesus.

*Attend Christmas Eve service. Leave the cares and worries about tomorrow behind and fully embrace this celebration of Christ’s birth.

*Serve a birthday cake for dessert, with “Happy Birthday, Jesus” written on it.

*Before opening the gifts on Christmas morning, read the account of Jesus’ birth from Luke 2:1-20 and/or Matthew 1:18-2:23.

How do you keep Christ in Christmas? I would love to hear what works for you!

Be encouraged and celebrate Jesus this Christmas!

©2024 Pamela D. Williams

Comments welcome at writepam71@gmail.com

A Vital, Vintage Gift

Browsing antique malls and flea markets is one of our family’s favorite pastimes. We love seeing stuff we played with as kids and marveling at the prices attached to them. There is almost always something that strikes our fancy (a pretty teacup) or tempts us (model train paraphernalia) to add to the accumulation of “stuff” we like but don’t really need. (We stoically resist these urges—well, most of the time!)

This Christmas our son’s family will be getting some vintage items they mentioned it would be fun to own. They love old things (even our 16-year-old granddaughter) so I think they will be thrilled with these gifts—at least I hope so!

In contrast, Dick’s Gram Whitsel always bought necessities for gifts at Christmas—socks, underwear, new bed pillows, etc. Ever practical, she figured everyone could use these items, so just stick to the basics.

There is an old, old gift that God offers to each one of us. It’s a gift He hopes will thrill us. It’s also a gift we all need. Romans 6:23 says, because of our sin, we deserve death. But the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A mother asked Billy Graham how she could better explain to her son why we have Christmas. Rev. Graham replied, “This Christmas, you will give your son many gifts. You will have done everything possible to give them to him—choosing them, paying for them, wrapping them and offering them to him. But they won’t really be his until he takes them and makes them his own. The same is true with Jesus Christ. God has done everything possible to give us the gift of salvation, but we must accept it by reaching out and inviting Him to come into our lives.”

This Christmas we can receive AND give the greatest gift of all! It’s a vintage gift but also a vital one. If you have never done so, accept God’s Christmas gift to you by asking Jesus into your life, the One who died so we could be forgiven for all the wrongs we have done. Then, share this great Gift with someone else!

Be encouraged!

©2024 Pamela D. Williams.

Comments welcome at writepam71@gmail.com