Simply CHRISTmas

In just four days, we will be celebrating, what is most certainly, the most celebrated holiday in the entire world!

Christmas!

It’s my most favorite holiday. I get excited as early as October when I begin to see glimpses of decorations hitting the big-box stores, while my email and newsfeed begin to fill up with advertisements on the latest toys, gadgets, and everything in between. I can’t get enough of the seasonal sites, tastes and smells overloading my senses, while Christmas lights begin to dot the neighborhoods.

I love hearing Christmas music playing in the background and receiving Christmas cards in the mail from family and friends. It’s so fun to practice traditions with my family, especially my children, and then make news ones we can enjoy and look forward to in the years to come. Then, of course, on Christmas morning, what a blessing to see the faces of my children as they open the gifts that they’ve waited in anticipation to receive. Still, my most favorite part is the gift my family gets to enjoy all year long, not just at Christmas. It’s the part that is too often hidden behind all the ribbons and bows to even be noticed.

Simply put, Christmas is about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the greatest gift that anyone could ever hope to receive. We all know the story of baby Jesus who was born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem, but the part that gets left out way too often is the shadow of the cross behind the manger. Yes, our Savior was born, but he also died. God’s greatest gift to us was not the birth of Jesus, but the sacrifice he made on the cross when Jesus took the sins of the world on his shoulders and died for me and for you.

If you are a Christian, I hope this Christmas you will take the time to reflect on this holiday’s true meaning and share it with someone who doesn’t know about the precious gift that is waiting for them. There is no greater gift you can give.

If you don’t know Jesus, I encourage you to learn about him.

If you need comfort, he is the comforter.

If you need healing, he is the master healer.

If you need love, you will not find a greater love than Him.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16, KJV

I pray everyone has a blessed Christmas this year!