Embracing the True Spirit of Christmas: Keeping the Right Priorities
As the holiday season approaches, our lives become a bit overwhelming with all the craziness that can go along with our plans and commitments. In the midst of the chaos, it's essential to pause and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Beyond the glittering lights and wrapped gifts lies an opportunity for spiritual growth and a chance to embrace the values that truly matter. It is easy to lose sight of the spiritual significance of Christmas. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ and the message of love, compassion, and peace that He brought into the world.
Christmas is a celebration of the greatest gift humanity has ever received—the birth of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to take time to meditate on the significance of this divine gift and express gratitude for God's love and salvation. Reflecting on the true reason for the season can set the tone for a Christ-centered celebration. The verse of John 3:16 speaks to this gift as we hear the words "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Spending quality time with family and friends is one of my favorite elements of the Christmas season. Juggling all the gatherings between different sides of the families, friend groups, work, and even church functions can be daunting. If your calendar resembles mine, the first step is to logistically map out the who, where, and when. Then the focus shifts to detailed planning such as food, games, and activities. If we are not careful, our good intentions for a season’s plans can become stressful and overwhelming.
The pressure to create the perfect Christmas experience often leads to stress and exhaustion. In my experience, some of my favorite functions were the simplest. Sometimes keeping it simple can shift the focus to quality time interacting and conversing with friends and family versus the chore of extensive meal prep and clean up. There is no better example of this than the comparison to the modest circumstances of Jesus’ birth. They certainly weren’t fancy, and we are still talking about them thousands of years later.
This Christmas season let's make a conscious effort to keep the right priorities at the forefront of our celebrations. Embrace the true spirit of Christmas through reflection, giving, and meaningful connections. Psalm 95:1-2 puts it this way, "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song."
I hope and pray that you all have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy time celebrating a Christ-centered holiday season.
God loves you and so do I,
Jeff Walk