My Christmas Thoughts - by Linda Bracken

One has to be in awe of this time of year. People are rushing here and there, to and fro, back and forth....all in the quest for the perfect gift or the perfect turkey or the perfect ornament for the tree. We get into the frenzy of the seasonal visitation from family and friends and then crash into a burnt out shell as the New Year takes over with all the quiet panic of looming credit card bills. We are in awe of this time of year, because we get to focus in on a tiny baby in a hay filled feeding trough and wonder at the meaning of it all. The peace that seems to be in the centre of the whirling activity is a tiny fragment that fills the centre of our being. We hear the real Christmas carols that tell the Story of His Story...the fulfilled prophecy of the coming King and the exactness of the time and place and purpose of this wonderful, counsellor whom we call "God's Love Gift to the World!"

We sing it out in "Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King..." and "God rest you, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day, to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray, oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, oh tidings of comfort and joy!"

When I was a child, I always experienced the "special Christmas feeling" leading up to the anticipation of "The Day" but by the end of "The Day" even before we were finished clearing all the dinner plates away, a darkness was already surrounding my heart. The presents were all opened, but I could not remember what I got, and by the next morning all the lights and glitter were all but dimmed completely. My thoughts were clouded and sad and I thought to myself that surely there had to be more to the season than this excitement and then crash and burn.

Then I realized what I had been missing in the Christmas season of 1970. In the spring time of 1970, I had said "Yes" to the question presented to me. The question was "Do you want to receive Jesus as your own personal Lord and Saviour?"

As Christmas approached I did not have my "Special Christmas feeling" leading up to The Day. Then I realized that the peace and joy and contentment and hope that was my yearly inkling was with me all year long since the day that I said "Yes" and made room in my heart for the Lord's Love Gift.

Take a moment for yourself. Look at the Father's Gift of Love and say "yes" to the offered gift of John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not die, but have Life Forever..."

Joy to the world...the Lord has come...let earth receive her King...let every heart prepare Him room...

my thoughts on Christmas....blessings....Linda

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