The Real Story
This past Sunday, I was listening to the Pastor paint a very interesting picture of the Christmas story. A story that has been commercialized by both the media and the church. There is a a pregnant young woman who is with a man who is not the father of her unborn child. In fact, the couple is on the run due to a somewhat corrupt regime. As though the situation is not bad enough, in the midst of labor pains, the couple is unable to find a place for the woman to have her child. Finally, they come upon a stable that smells of animals and dung. The peaceful Nativity scenes we buy from the store are false. It would not be hard to imagine that there was a decent amount of noise from the animals especially once Mary began the pushing process free from epidural. The arrival of random wise men and shepherds only contributed to the dysfunction.
An Important Realization
Every time I ask someone what they love the most about the holiday season, they tell me they love getting to spend time with family. They talk about the joys of going home and spending time with their brothers/sisters, seeing long lost relatives, going to the Christmas Eve candelight service on occasion, and we must not forget...the food.
Hearing this answer over and over, I always feel like the odd one out. I dread the holidays. I can't tell if this Scrooge-season began after I found out there was no Santa or after the death of my grandma. Either way, for me, Christmas is synonymous with stress. When the Halloween decorations are replaced with Christmas paraphernalia on November, all I can think is, "Oh great, here we go."
Ariel, what do you want for Christmas? Are you going to come home? There never fails to be family drama of some sort. Sometimes, when the season begins, I feel like I might as well be in that overcrowded and uncomfortable stable.
So there I was in church Sunday, listening to the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph, and seeing how similar it was to my Christmas. That's when I realized,
Christmas is not about family......otherwise it would be called Family-mas. All of these people came together despite discomfort, and rumors of infidelity in order to see Jesus. The birth of Jesus was the main event, not some side show for gift giving, singing carols, and decorations.
Although there is evidence that Jesus was not even born in December, this season is all about Him. Don't pass through all of December 25th without thanking God for sending his son. Remembering this beautiful act of love is why I will have a smile on my face today.
Merry Christmas,
Ariel
