An Old Friend Comes
Christmas is here again. He is like an old friend who comes to visit. And as last year, you may be anticipating the inevitable disappointment that you and Friend Christmas have grown even more distant. When we were young, Christmas was our most anticipated season of the year, a truly magical time of lights, gifts and joy. Now, we are older, and the purity and anticipation of the day are not the same. What happened, and how can we rekindle that friendship once again?
The rekindling. The viewpoint is not like the involuntary wonder, joy and anticipation of wrapped curiosities from my childhood. I am keenly aware that with each passing year I must seek the wonder, joy and anticipation of the baby. Don’t get me wrong – I love gifts. But, I realize too that gifts will not last forever – they will crack, wither and fade. They will become antiquated, worn and obsolete. However, the ever deepening discovery of the love of Jesus will never pass away.
Have you ever had someone break their promise or commitment to you? Maybe it was a simple assurance, a pledge of loyalty, or even perhaps a marriage vow. And perhaps the promise was so important to you that when it was broken, so was your heart. Jesus Christ, the creator and sustainer of life, never breaks His promises. In fact, His promises are covenantal and will not be broken, for He is a God of assuring excellence. Jesus promises you forgiveness, acceptance, hope and renewal if you will only stop and surrender your brokenness and disappointments to Him. In essence, by giving Him our debris, he gives us His very best.
That is the rekindling I find every Christmas season. The wonder, joy and anticipation of the baby – our very Creator humbling Himself to come in the lowliest of states to proclaim in the simplest of terms how much He loves us.
Merry Christmas.
-D