The Christmas Spirit

I have had trouble this year getting in ‘the Christmas spirit.’ By that I mean decorating my house, laughing at parties with a drink in my hand, dressing up in red and green with special jewelry and sparkly additions. My home has yet to be covered in wrapping paper and ribbons and tape and gift tags. I am still using my everyday plates.

When did Christmas become a time of such forced jovialness? Not to worry, there are services and programs for those of us who aren’t feeling so jolly. As if being serious were a mental health condition that needed addressing.

Is all this exuberance and decorating really ‘the Christmas spirit?’ Maybe, as Dr. Suess tells us, Christmas doesn’t come from a store.

“It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags.” — The Grinch

Maybe this Christmas will be more like “Silent Night” and less like “Jingle Bells.”

It’s not sadness, or grief, or seasonal affectation disorder, or “blue Christmas.” Perhaps I am finally grasping what advent is, the coming of a savior into a dark and troubled world, to a people who need saving, from themselves if no one else.

And the world stayed dark and troubled, even when the light shone in it. All the lights on the houses and the glitter on the trees cannot expel the darkness in our souls. Only Jesus Christ can do that. Only God can do that.

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:4-5.

I may not use my Christmas dishes until Christmas Day, until people come over. I am wondering why I have Christmas dishes. I don’t have Easter dishes, although I do have Easter decorations… Are all these accoutrements really necessary? Do I have them to help me ‘get in the spirit?’ Perhaps to impress my neighbors and friends? To not be seen as the grinch?

My neighbor has a larger-than-life inflatable Will Ferrell dressed as an elf in their front yard. My next-door neighbor’s house lights make it difficult to sleep. I hope I never hear “Santa, baby” again. I am beginning to sound a bit grinchy!!

And that is not the Christmas spirit or the advent spirit.

What a gift God has given us! Access to Him through Jesus. What a gift God has given us! A renewed mind, a fresh outlook, a revitalized life. What a gift God has given us! Peace and joy and love for one another. What a gift God has given us! Light to dispel the darkness within us, to shine on those around us. What a gift!

I want to tell you about His gift to me. I want to share it with you. I want you to know you can get this gift as well. Free Gift – Click here to enter!

Perhaps I will invite you to my home and serve you dinner on special plates. Perhaps I will put lights on a tree and on my house and let them light up the night sky. Perhaps I will find silly ways to make the children around me laugh and make us stodgy adults laugh as well.

Perhaps I will give a little gift to everyone I encounter to remind us of the marvelous extravagant gift God has given us.

Perhaps God has put a little Christmas spirit in me after all!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holy days!

Betsy