When Christmas was Such a Joyous Time...

Originally, Christmas was a time for receiving loot. It was difficult to hear any other message. My birthday falls during the Christmas season. I had an aunt who was born Christmas Day and my sister was born on New Years Day. I've heard sad stories of people who felt ripped off because they didn't cash in because their birthdays fell close to Christmas. This was NOT the case with me. My quite generous parents made sure my birthday and Christmas were events!
Secondly, Christmas meant being with the closest person I've had to a brother, my cousin, Herb. mom never got accustomed to Northern Virginia and we averaged two trips a month to Wilson, North Carolina or so it seemed.
It was rare for us to spend a Christmas in Falls Church, which made it even more of an event.
I do recall one Christmas when there was a snow storm and my Uncle Bill, according to my cousin Herb, trudged through the snow for the journey from Wilson to Falls Church.
Little by little, Christmas heartaches began to come into play. There was the first Christmas with my sister in Kansas City, and the hollowness that Christmas was without her being around.
And just a few, painful years later, my cousin Herb had married and moved away.
What a selfish little joker I was and sometimes, still am. Little by little we realize that it's not all about me. I'm a very late bloomer in that department.
Tradition is not a hallowed thing either in society and especially in the era of the mega Church!
I endured thirty some years of Christmas Cantata after Christmas Cantata. The motive was good, after all, it's the time of year the "heathens" actually darken the door of the church. May as well give them the plan of salvation while they're there.
But here, in the infamous "Bible Belt" they've belted down so much Bible that they've ignored the timeless and essential message which really is Christmas.
Santa, gifts, holly, lights, tinsel...all these things are fun and great. And the FAMILY DOES wish to pass on our traditions. After all, the new mother wants her three-year-old hellion to have the memories SHE had of Christmas and feels guilty if she can't shower him with gifts. Then she's disappointed when junior is more interested in playing with the wrappings and box the present came in than the toy inside.
There is, however, a joy that change cannot take away, no matter how it strikes. It is the joy that came to the world when the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords made a human appearance in a little manger in Bethlehem. The long awaited Messiah had come. Some were aware from the beginning. Others of us didn't understand that this child would be born for one purpose...to die. To pay the price for our sin. But the glory is that He didn't remain on the cross...he didn't rot in that cave...He rose from the dead and has returned to the Father in Heaven to prepare a PLACE for us not built with hands. And His Name shall be called Wonderful Couselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace and there shall be no end to His eternal reign. And because He lives, we, too can live eternal life with no more pain, nor sorrow, nor LONELINESS, no sickness or disease, no more missing someone who should be there.
So, when you're sitting thinking of how Christmas USED to be...remember how it's GOING to be!
Father, thank You for Your Dear Son Jesus. Bless His Holy Name!