I’ve had it!
When our youngest was about three, she tried to hurry her procrastinating sister along, and then announced that she better get going, “Or Mummy will ‘had it.’”
Now, I’m a very happy, gentle, mellow person…most of the time. But the moment my family hears me say, “Okay, I’ve had it,” everyone dives for cover.
So yes, I was happy with this Christmas season until I heard a preacher use the Isaiah text and tell us how we all should be during Advent: Depressed.
Yes, depressed.
And then, yes, I had it.
Here’s what’s really wrong with some of the Christmas bashers and naysayers.
We’re not in Old Testament times. Jesus’ birth and resurrection took care of all that doom and gloom. We’re supposed to spread his light, not play woe is me, like the prophets of way back, and be all depressed until December 25. (And then be depressed again after December 25 because your Christmas present didn’t live up to your expectations.) Jesus came and dispelled that darkness. So let’s not go back and pretend to play spiritual Bible times. Please.
And don’t keep harping about doing away with all the glitz and tinsel. I love all that sparkle and light. I love the decorations. I have boxes of decorations…many boxes…forty to sixty boxes of them! To be clear, they contain love gifts from our many family members, friends, and church members. As we open each box, unwrap each ornament or decoration, we remember the fun times we’ve had through the years.
I love the lights. They spread joy. (Unless, of course, you can’t afford the high electric bill). Otherwise, why should Christians have unlit depressing homes at Christmas? Lights should remind us of Jesus the Light of the World—the Dispeller of darkness.
Presents? They don’t have to be hugely expensive—just give what you can. Sometimes, we’ve given coupons to each other for a back massage, manicure, movie night, homemade dinner, picnic, or to take out the trash, do the dishes, or provide a guilt-free gripe session, etc. And it’s so much fun. Presents are just a way of saying, “I love you—you’re important to me.” Gifts don’t have to cost money if you don’t have any. They just require a little creativity.
Keep it simple—gifts, sermons, church activities! Plan ahead.
Christmas celebrations have to do with your attitude and heartitude. You can take all the extra stuff away from the stable and focus only on Jesus, but you can still have something distract you from the Reason for the season.
Think about this. You can be completely focused on Jesus this season, but if you’re an unhappy and grousing person, you’re going to take that person with you everywhere you go. How about changing that?
So if we really want to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s go all out and make it the best birthday party, with the best decorations, ever. It is his birthday we’re celebrating, after all. If we don’t like dull birthdays for ourselves, why in the world would he?
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This was a really good post. I’m glad that you showed that Christmas is a celebration. We tell our boys that the lights and decorations are joyous and we separate the nonsense from Santa’s story. We tell our boys that because God gave us Jesus and Jesus gave his life, Santa is just another example that teaches us how to give.
Thanks Jimmy! I feel the same way. That’s what we told our daughters and they’ve never forgotten it. We’re celebrating the joy that this season brings and the light that Jesus brings to us in the world’s darkness. All the best for a very blessed and hope-filled Christmas season to your family!
Btw, this didn’t sound like a personal message intended for just one person. The offense to me is mysterious. Sounds like the author was being tongue-in-cheek at times—humorous as well as making some great observations. It didn’t sound like she was lashing out or attacking anyone, or being petty at all.
Great message! Thanks.
Thanks Bill! Appreciate the kind words. Have a great Christmas!
Bah! Humbug! :-p
Seriously, just because I do not have a desire to indulg in the holiday festivities doesn’t mean that I don’t love & honor my Lord & Savior. It doesn’t mean that I am not worshipping Him. And it does not mean that His birth, His life, His death, burial, & ressurection aren’t important to me! They are the most important things to me!
I just don’t get into it, that’s all.
I’m not any less of a Christian just because I don’t like Christmas. I’m not any less saved/born again just because I don’t like Christmas. And I’m certainly not going to go to hell for not liking Christmas!
I don’t lash out at you for liking Christmas. So, please, don’t lash out at me for not liking it!
Let’s just move past this pettiness & move, shall we? 😉
Hi Eric,
I’m sorry you took this post so personally as this wasn’t about you. I never said or implied that you or anyone was less saved, loved Jesus less, or any of the things you listed in your comment.
My point was that as Christians, we have more cause to celebrate, not less. To be more joyful, not more sombre. I find that some Christians equate being more sombre as being more spiritual and closer to Jesus. That would seem a more Monastic mindset—where things like being lighthearted and seen laughing are frowned upon.
But even though a Monastic lifestyle might not appeal to me, I do believe our lives our tailor-made by God. He fits us for the purpose he created us for, and then uses us to draw others into his Kingdom. Some of us like one thing, some another.
Hope that this Christmas season is the way you like it best.
I love it. Yes, I too love the lights and decorations. They do always make me think of the Light of the World. We have the chance to shine that light at Christmas by our reactions to others, and negative, judgmental reactions are not going to lead anyone to the humble manger. Yes, we are kind of extravagant with our giving. So was He. As long as we’re also extravagant giving to others, those in need, especially those in need of grace, I think we’re living out Christmas as it was given to us.
Hi Jill,
Thanks! Love the idea of extravagant giving—no one could be more extravagant than Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. It’s that gift and his grace that makes each day filled with hope and joy.
Good post!
Ill celebrate by tearing down all your Christmas decorations. 😉
Seriously though, I think we can be intentional with all these elements and “reform” them to point back to Christ. It’s when they reform us that “Hulk SMASH!”
For you, I’ll celebrate by joining in the fun and tearing them down—and tearing up the place with you!!!
Thanks for your insights. I agree with you.