brucedawson - The Christmas Paradox

I love this time of year. Christmas was always a special time for me growing up. My parents created that feeling in me and I have tried to do the same for my kids. I love the decorations, the food (my wife's Christmas strudel), the focus on family, the music, the gifts, really everything.

I got up this morning and enjoyed looking at the lights I had strung on the patio banister and I was thinking about all those things. Then I got my Bible and it fell open to the beginning of Matthew and I read about the birth of Jesus. And I realized that it's December 8^th and this is the first time in all my thinking about Christmas this year that I've really focused on the true meaning. God is so good to me that He will only let me get so far off track before He gently brings me back to the important things.

But I can't help but wonder what Jesus thinks of all this.

Okay, here's what I hope Jesus thinks of all this. First, I think it's His nature to look at the good in us. What other time of year are people so giving? What other time of year brings families together more? Christmas is a time for love, for sharing, isn't that God? Maybe "Jingle Bells" and Christmas trees and Christmas strudel aren't the perfect symbol for the birth of our Savior. But I do believe He wants to see us joyful. I know he would like that thousands of churches have Christmas plays and invite non believers. He would love the candle light services on Christmas Eve. He must love the fact that we are the most selfless this time of year. He has got to love the idea of the Angel Tree gift collection. Despite all the distortions, I still find Christmas a miraculous time. Amazing that God actually came to be with us.

God the Father gave the perfect gift; Himself. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, not in gift wrap...laid in a manger, not under a tree...but it was the same spirit of generosity, spirit of love, spirit of giving...it was the first Christmas.