Keeping It Merry

Keeping It Merry

John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas portrays a couple who decide that they would rather forgo the Christmas holiday than spend the thousands of dollars associated with Christmas because of the pressures of the culture. The book is a great read with many fun twists and turns, and it exposes one of the challenges of Christmas: keeping the holiday merry.

During the month of December, the demands on our time go up, as the expectations of others have us going from the malls to buy gifts, to holiday parties to make small talk, and to our kids’ schools to see their Christmas programs. As Christmas Eve approaches, the pressure of buttoning things up at work, wrapping the gifts, packing the car, and getting the kids nicely dressed for Christmas Eve services mounts, making the Christmas holiday feel anything but merry. The rat race of Christmas can make “skipping Christmas” very tempting.

How can we keep Christmas merry? I believe it all involves directing our hearts toward Christ at the beginning of each day. Consider getting up a few minutes early and spending time with your first cup of coffee reading the Christmas story in Matthew 1–2 or Luke 1–2. Consider grabbing that morning cup and reading John 1:1-14. As John declares in verse 14, “The Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” Let’s begin our days with our hearts focusing on the true meaning of Christmas, and protect our joy.

The Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:14