Christmas will be different this year…

by Pastor Marty

Are you sick of hearing that, yet? To be sure, it will be different but the reason of why we celebrate Christmas has not changed. God has come in the person of Jesus to be with us, to do life among us, and ultimately to save us! In short, this is why we celebrate Christmas!

The last several weeks, for me, has been this time machine transporting me back through the years. Christmas Eve was when our family piled into the car and headed off to church. Lighting candles and singing Silent Night was always memorable. Later, that night, we had our family meal. People sat in the same places. The conversation was always predictable. Later, we would have a family program before we opened presents. Someone would read the Christmas story and the grandchildren would play the part. We would sing Christmas songs…not everyone sang! Presents were opened and the rest of the night was spent playing games. Family! My parents were instrumental in making Christmas a wonderful experience!

I have many great memories of Christmas, but sometimes, Christmas does not go well…easily. Life is life, right? There were years when our family could not all be together. Moreover, my parents, who were the glue of the family, have died. Seasons come and go. Relationships change. Family dynamics change. It is not necessarily bad; just different. We are all navigating different during this week of Christmas. Things are not the same. It is different. Life is life.

This week of Christmas might be different from other years but the reason we celebrate Christmas is not different, it has not changed. We need a savior. That is the main thing! Period. Maybe, just maybe we see that even more clearly this year. Maybe, just maybe we see that even more clearly when we navigate that different in our lives. Christmas, how and where and with whom you celebrate with, may you know that all things hold together in the Christ-child (Col. 1:17). This is the great promise of Christmas! Knowing this makes a difference on how one lives.

Merry Christmas!

-- Pastor Marty