Nena Arias | December 10, 2018
“For unto us a child is born…”There are several special holidays on our calendar throughout the year, the holidays that are the most meaningful that we celebrate in the United States are Christmas and Easter, because they help us commemorate the two outstanding advents that are the most important to our existence. It is the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ to redeem us from sin and death and when he actually brought this to pass with his death, burial and resurrection.
It is truly tragic that both of these all-important happenings have been masked and marred with commercialism, time off from work and excuses to party in debauchery never even thinking twice of the true occasion to celebrate.
So, the season meant for celebrating God’s gift of salvation in his Son can so easily be devoid of that meaning.
Most people fuss over decorations and fret with getting what they think are the “perfect” gifts only to find that the person that received them wasn’t too impressed unless the gift was really expensive and impacting. Budgeting becomes a huge problem and too many are willing to charge their credit cards to the max even if it will take them all year to pay it off. Then there is the problem of whose house will have the least family drama and emotional baggage and will be less problematic and tolerable to spend the holiday at, and what travel and meal planning will be less expensive and cumbersome. Also, planning ahead to keep your waistline in check. All this can become overwhelming and missing the mark of the true meaning of the occasion.
Families will have to jump the hurdle to travel from house to house to satisfy all of the family members, so they don’t have to hear their recriminations throughout years to come. Needless to say, Christmas Day becomes an endurance trial for you, and your family to survive.
What should be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience turns out to be the most stressful and exhausting time of the year with repercussions that may never be forgotten or outlived, causing people to despise this special time of deep soul-searching and appreciation for what our heavenly Father, and his precious Son Jesus have done for us all with eternal value.
To make this time more meaningful and enjoyable you should set some healthy boundaries in order to invest time and expense well-spent.
Above all, always remember what may even sound like a cliché but it is the truth, remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. If you miss out on that you have missed the mark and maybe even your assured home with God forever. Some may think that statement too tragic but if you really think about it, it is the truth.
It is still foundational to remember what Christmas is supposed to be.
Giving gifts, decorating, cooking and baking, and spending time with family at Christmas can be such a wonderful blessing without trying to do too much. Be a blessing to others, and guard yourself from emphasizing the wrong things, and bring Jesus to the forefront of your celebration. This season bless the home you can visit.
Include the less fortunate in your giving don’t abuse your budget that may potentially cause financial problems for the sake of fulfilling materialistic cultural expectations. Instead, let your whole year be Christmas. Honor God and cleave to your family all year.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
(Isaiah 9:6-7)