Some people like it and some people don’t, but regardless of which camp you are in, the sights and sounds of Christmas are upon us! The decorations are going up, Christmas music is being played on the radio, and Christmas movies have started finding their ways on to the TV. It certainly is starting to look and sound a lot like Christmas!
Now, I’ll be honest with you, there are certain Christmas songs that I am more fond of than others…and there are specific reasons for each. For example, White Christmas is certainly one of my favorites because of my Mother. And O Holy Night and Silent Night also top the list along with Hark, the Herald Angels Sing because they help me to reflect upon the Birth of Christ. But there is another song that still stirs my heart each year and that song is a secular song called, “Where are you Christmas”, sung by Faith Hill.
Now you might ask, why would a song from the movie about Grinch stir my heart? Well, it’s very simple…the words speak to my heart each year of how this world seems to get caught up in the commercialization of Christmas, versus the Holiness of Christmas. The song opens with these questions:
Where are you Christmas, why can’t I find you…?
Why have you gone away?
Where is the laughter you used to bring me?
Why can’t I hear music play?
My world is changing, I’m rearranging…
Does that mean Christmas changes too?
Does that mean Christmas changes too…. This question that is asked in this song, hurts my heart every year when I hear it. Why? Because for many folks, this question is a reality. They have allowed the ways of the world to influence their thinking. They have allowed Christmas to be about material things, presents, and parties, rather than the Birth of Christ. They have allowed Christmas to change in their lives.
My Prayer is that we never lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas and that we ensure this by sharing the truth with our children and our children’s children. For it was that day, so many years ago, that our Savior was born. It was on that day, that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father (John 1:14 NKJV). Hold fast to this truth and never let go! Hold fast, share this truth of Jesus as many as you can!
I Pray this year, we all settle into our hearts and focus not on the worldly celebrations of Christmas, but rather, focus upon the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Remember, Jesus loves you and so do I!
Pastor Jeff