Christmas

Just a couple more weeks, well more like a week and a half, and it’ll be Christmas.

Everywhere i look there’s Christmas. Adverts, Christmas cookies, Christmas decorations, the playlist on the radio is full of Christmas songs.. i find myself dreading it..

i love the lights, i love the cosy decorations, i love the smiles of people talking about their plans for Christmas break.. But inside i feel like an ice cold hand is creeping up on me and freezing my heart. i’m dreading Christmas. Why?

There’s more than one reason, i guess. Things usually are more complicated than a simple x -> y. But the most important reason is me being afraid to mess it up.

Christmas has become a holiday about getting-together, special dinners, grant parties, lots of people and lots of food. i’m beyond lucky my family isn’t throwing big dinners and it probably will be just the five of us (four actually, my brother will be spending Christmas with his roommates & friends). Still i feel lots of pressure. i am scared beyond words that i’ll mess it up.

Then again, when i think about it. What is Christmas really about?

Is it about making sure you won’t forget anyone while sending the Christmas cards? Is it about the trees and all the special decorations? Is it about the presents under the tree? Or the ball dresses?

Those extra’s are nice, don’t get me wrong. i love the lights, they make this cold winter season so much brighter J i love how people take time to send cards at this time of year. It’s a way of thinking about each other, letting people know that they’re special to you.

Maybe i’m not sending Christmas cards this year, but i do want people to know i’m thinking of them. Praying they will have a wonderful time, no matter their plans for Christmas break. Whether you are dreading all the festivities, looking forward to them, hardly being able to wait till you can finally dress up for one of those dinners of parties you’ll be attending this year. Whether you turn the radio off whenever there’s a Christmas song, or searching for your favorites on Youtube. Whether you are having plans with your friends or family or plan to stay home, hibernating – hiding in your bed, waiting for it all to be over and people turning back to normal..

No matter what your plans are, i am here thinking of you. Wishing you all the best. There’s no right or wrong way to celebrate Christmas. Just remember, at its core, Christmas is not about all those grant commercial things. You really can’t mess up Christmas, for it’s not about you. Christmas is about this little boy, who gave up Heaven to be one of us. It’s about Christ giving up His all, to become just like you and me. It’s about Him who was born to be our Savior. It’s about Christ who was born, because of His tremendous love for us. He came into this world because He thought we are to die for. It’s about Him showing His love to us, no matter what we have done, are doing right now, or will be doing. It’s about Him choosing to become human, in all brokenness, so one day, one glorious day, we will be whole.

He is the reason, not only for this season, but for my whole life!

Knowing that, i can rest. For i won’t mess it up this Christmas.

Wishing you all a blessed CHRISTmas this year.

May the Lord be with you, always.