Each year, on the day after Thanksgiving, we get out the Christmas decorations and put them all up. Long before that, I start planning what to give each person on my list. I also start marking my calendar with the dates and times of all the holiday events scheduled by groups of which I am (or some other family member is) a part. Then, in December, I or we attend all those events. But wait…there’s more! There’s all the wrapping of presents, baking holiday goodies, and planning and packing for getting to Grandma and Pampa’s house before December 25th.
You probably do many, if not all, of these things, too. There’s lots to be done to prepare for Christmas.
We’re pretty good at getting these kinds of things done. Because after all, they “have” to be done. They’re not optional.
There’s nothing wrong with doing these things. The problem comes in when we treat social and cultural preparations as necessary and spiritual preparation as optional. When we’re so focused on what we’re going to buy for whom or what activity comes next that we forget (or don’t have time) to focus on the One this celebration is all about.
I can’t tell how much time it should take to prepare oneself and one’s family spiritually for Christmas. That number would be different for every home. Nor can I tell you specifically what you should do in order to prepare. Again, that will be different for every family. But I can tell you that if you focus on the gifts to the exclusion of focusing on the Giver, you’re missing out. If you get so caught up in the trappings of Christmas that you miss the chance to contemplate its amazing spiritual beauty, your Christmas hasn’t been what it could have been.
It’s easy to let spiritual things get pushed aside, especially in December. There are so many other things clamoring for our attention that the “still, small voice” gets lost in the hubbub. We wind up observing the temporal traditions surrounding Christ’s birth but missing out on the deeper, eternal realities.
If we’re going to spend the time we need to spend focusing on Jesus instead of the chaos of the season, we’ll have to be intentional about it. If we just leave it for “when we have time”, it won’t happen.
I encourage you to spend some time giving serious consideration to how you will observe and meditate upon the true meaning of Christmas this year, as well as how you might share it with others. Will you determine to finish your Christmas shopping in November so that you will have more time in December to focus on Advent? Will you do an Advent activity with your children each day, beginning December 1? Will your family have special devotional times in addition to attending whatever services your church offers?
What will you do to make sure your children understand what Christmas is really about and see that lived out, not just paid lip service to?
Think about it. Pray about it. Plan for it. And celebrate Christmas as it was meant to be.
Colossians 3:2—Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (ESV)