December 2017

I once heard a story of a birthday celebration where a house sent out a great many invitations to family and friends to celebrate the long-awaited birth of a baby. People were excited to celebrate and dedicated hours to shopping for the perfect gift for the family. A fair amount of time was also devoted to picking out an outfit that would reflect the specialness of the occasion. Some of the folks attending were not too keen with the fact that the cold weather forced them to wear a coat that hid the outfit they had allocated so much time to selecting. Thus, they were eager to shed their coats when arriving at the party. As guests arrived, the hall closets quickly filled and the guests began to toss their coats on the bed in the bedroom down the hall from the front door. The music was playing, food and drink was plentiful and the air was thick with merriment. The laughter; declarations of “I love your outfit”; and the clinking of glasses in ceaseless toasts almost drowned out the music. 
Finally, the moment arrived for unveiling the content of the gifts. Someone blurted out: “Wait, shouldn’t the reason why we are celebrating be here when the gifts are opened?” Everyone agreed and began to ask about the baby and where it was. The parents said, we laid him down to sleep downstairs nearby. He is laying on the bed in the guest room near the front door. A quiet hush filled the room when the realization sank in that the bed in that room was heaping with winter coats. The parents rushed in to find the baby smothered under the weight of a many coats and struggling to breathe. They were none too happy and asked “How could you guys toss your coats on the bed with a baby sleeping on it?” One by one the guests admitted that they were so excited to join the party that they had not really paid attention to see if there was anyone on the bed. 
The story illustrates how easy it can be to be so enthused with a celebration that we can end up smothering the reason why we celebrate. Over two thousand years ago, a group of frightened shepherds huddled together as they heard an angel declare: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10 & 11 ESV) Such news should not get lost in our excitement to celebrate with gifts, food, friends, family and merri-ment. 
This Christmas season, as we are thinking of that perfect gift; party outfit; and all the other concerns that surround celebratory gatherings, let us strive to not smother the reason why we are celebrating. We rejoice that to us a savior was born. Born to provide us an avenue of grace; forgiveness and a life of celestial purpose. We also rejoice and celebrate that those of us who professed Him Lord and Savior were gifted with a new family called the church. I thank God, the Father that in spite of all my flaws, sent His Son to be born and in that act, allowed me the opportunity to be part of His eternal plan. I also thank Him for providing me with all of you as my spiritual family. May your Christmas season be especially filled with joy this year and may your hearts stay true to what is of primary importance, that to us a Savior was born. 
Have a blessed December and a Merry Christmas. 
Vic