Christmas on the Sidelines

Photo image courtesy Pixabay

And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room in the inn. – Luke 2:7 (KJV)

I love Christmas. I love decorating, baking, shopping, and the gathering of family. But one year, as the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus drew near, I began to feel pretty sick and discovered I was positive for COVID-19. It was 2021, the disease was very unpredictable and everyone feared getting it. I was planning to host my family for Christmas but all my efforts and arrangements went down the drain.

When Christmas Day arrived, my family celebrated without me while I watched Christmas movies all day. I saw movies about Santa, romantic movies about people finding love, movies about Christmas vacations, people trying to get home for Christmas, movies about reindeer and snowmen.

My family called to check on me, but I ate my sandwich alone in my bedroom. Then after more cold medicine, I tucked myself in bed with a box of tissues and the TV remote.

Much to my surprise, in the late evening, there was a beautiful program about the birth of Christ. Contemporary musicians and singers played and sang new arrangements of the old Christmas hymns with beautiful music and praise. Finally my heart felt Christmas.

My ears heard the angels proclaiming Jesus’s birth. I was so sad that I’d distracted myself all day with everything that wasn’t Christmas and wallowed in disappointment. But I was thankful that at the end of the day, in the eleventh hour, I was able to celebrate in my heart the true meaning of the special and blessed day Christ entered the world.

Since then, I’ve celebrated Christmas the way I love, with my family and enjoying all the things that bring me much happiness. But now we go to our Christmas Eve service, help with Operation Christmas Child boxes, and try to keep Christ centered in all our endeavors during the blessed season of Jesus’s birth.

I will always be thankful for the year that made me remember what Christmas is all about. The other things are just the stuff we think we need to accomplish in order to celebrate properly. Jesus doesn’t care how many desserts we bake or if the tree is decorated perfectly. He just cares that there is enough room in our hearts for Him. There wasn’t room in the inn for Him, but we can make room in our hearts, especially at Christmas.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Does Christmas make you feel anxious or thankful?

2. What obligations could you give up to focus more on Jesus?

3. Does Jesus have a permanent place in your heart or is there no room at Christmas time?