The Christmas season is upon us once again. For some, this time of year is met with anxiety as they try to find that “perfect gift” for someone. For others, the season is met with busyness as schedules get filled with school Christmas programs, family gatherings, office parties, and the like. For others still, this time of year is met with loneliness or grief as memories of lost loved ones come flooding back.
But there is something about Christmas that is more meaningful to the Christian than any of these things, and that is Jesus Christ.
For Christians, Christmas is about celebrating the birth of the Saviour. There is an old hymn whose opening line states, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!” We celebrate Christmas not because it’s a time for presents, or an excuse to attend another gathering or party. Regardless of whether someone is a Christian or not, we have Christmas because 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ was born into this world to redeem people to God.
Having said that, there are a few practical ways to maintain focus on Jesus and the reason we celebrate Christmas this season.
First, lend a helping hand. There are many parachurch organizations that get busy during this season especially, and they can always use extra help. Places like Siloam Mission, Union Gospel Mission, or even our local Helping Hands have an assortment of needs that can be met with just a few hours of volunteer time. But take it a step further. These places need help year-round as well, and one way to continue that focus throughout the year is to become a regular volunteer.
A second option is to give gifts to organizations that provide opportunities for children around the world. Samaritan’s Purse holds an annual drive to fill shoeboxes with toys and other necessities for children in third-world countries. There are organizations that collect toys to distribute to those children from less fortunate families, and all it takes is a little bit of research to find where those organizations are.
A third option is to minimize spending for gifts. A friend I spoke to a few years ago ensures that any amount of money being spent on gifts is also given to the church or parachurch organizations. For instance, if they spend $100 on gifts, they also donate $100 to some type of organization. One family I spoke with doesn’t give presents at Christmas at all, but rather emphasizes birthdays to keep Jesus as the focus of Christmas.
It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, yet with a little bit of effort we can keep the focus where it is most important. And for that we can say, “Joy to the world!”
