I hope you all had an amazing Christmas day! We’re now a couple of days past Christmas, and some of you are probably back to work, the wrapping paper is probably thrown away, the presents are put in their new places, and maybe you’ve even put up the Christmas decorations already.
There are probably a lot of different emotions that people are feeling. Maybe you’re a bit saddened that Christmas is over because you had to say goodbye to family and head home. Maybe you’re relieved because the Christmas season is difficult for you, and you’re glad to be back in your normal routine.
For me, I am a teacher, so I get about a week and a half for Christmas break, and I enjoy every minute of it. I love having a break from grading and from classes, and I love spending time with family. We always try to spend time with family, both on my husband’s side and on my side. It’s a time for food, family, traditions, being lazy, playing games, going to Christmas Eve service, making a birthday cake (or cheesecake) for Jesus, and just loving one another like only family can do. Now, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a few squabbles here and there, because we are all humans, and none of us are perfect!
I am sure every family has their own traditions for the Christmas season, and our family is no different. My mom started a tradition many years ago for her grandchildren, and that is allowing them to open one present on Christmas Eve. The present they get to open is pajamas, and they then wear their new pajamas to bed on Christmas Eve. Another Christmas Eve tradition is for the family to go to a Christmas Eve church service and then to head home for soup (both the traditional oyster stew and potato soup). On Christmas morning, we get up very early, eat homemade cinnamon rolls, and open presents, and then later we have a big Christmas dinner, usually my brother-in-law’s prime rib. At some point, we make a cake of some sort, put candles on it, sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, and then devour the dessert! That was another tradition my mom started when her grandchildren were small.
But what do we do when Christmas is over? On December 25, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and we think of him as a baby in the manger, but when we put the Nativity set away, does that mean we can’t keep that Christmas spirit in our heart?
I believe we can keep the spirit of Christmas in our heart all year round, but that doesn’t mean that we have to continue to think of Jesus as the baby in the manger. Look at Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” In that verse, it mentions Jesus being born, but then it goes on to mention the names that Jesus will be called, and they are not baby names. Jesus will be our “Wonderful Counselor,” our “Mighty God,” our “Everlasting Father,” and our “Prince of Peace.” Look at the power and the royalty there–He is “mighty” and He is a “Prince.” Along with that, He is our guide as a “counselor,” and He is our “Father.”
I love that verse! Jesus is everything to us. He is everything we need. Yes, He was born as a human baby in a manger in Bethlehem, but He is also our Savior who sits at the right hand of God. That blows my mind a little! What an amazing God to come to Earth as a human and to die for our sins.
Thank you, Lord for sending us your son. We remember Him at Christmas time as the baby in the manger, but we also know Him every day as our Savior and redeemer.
I pray that you all had a blessed Christmas and that you have a wonderful New year!
Here is a picture of part of our Nativity scene and of our Christmas tree this year:
Thank you for reading, friends.
Love,
Julie
Comments