It’s Christmas!

Audio By Carbonatix

One of the traditions in our home is that the first time I see anybody in the family on Christmas morning, I say in a loud and singsong voice, “It’s Christmas!” I can’t communicate the tone and the volume properly via text, but I say those two words with a lot of enthusiasm, excitement, and a bit of silliness. And, as you can imagine, it’s an especially huge hit with my grandkids. In fact, they are also often saying, “It’s Christmas!” as they walk in the front door on Christmas morning.

Christmas Day and the Christmas season are family-focused days for many of us. And I know that lots of people look forward to this time together for months ahead of time. I also know that some people dread this season because it reminds them of lost loved ones, of family issues from the past, or of any number of challenging situations or relationship dynamics. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, I hope that you have a meaningful time celebrating Christmas this year.

And the reason I can say that is because Christmas certainly is a family-focused occasion. But it’s also much more than that! For Christians, Christmas is the season when we remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We think about the fact that Jesus was God coming to live on earth in human form. If you’ve heard the name Immanuel used to describe Jesus, that’s what that name is trying to get at. It means, “God with us.” Now, I know that is a tough idea to wrap your head around. But instead of getting hung up on the logistics of something like that, I want you to spend some time thinking about how meaningful and momentous an act it would be for God to come and live on earth among His creation!

That is why Christmas is such a big deal for Christians. It’s not because we love winter or because we love buying presents for people. It’s because we’re celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world. God coming to live among people makes several huge statements about us and about God. It means that we’re not a lost cause, no matter what the news might make you think. It means that we’re not alone, no matter how isolating pain or suffering might feel. It means that God cares and wants to be involved with us, which means that we’re valuable and significant. I know that there’s a difference between reading those words and actually internalizing and believing them. And I know that it might take time to practice moving them from the page into your worldview, but I hope you’ll join me in working to internalize and believe these truths. When you do, things change!

I hope that you and your family have come to learn the true meaning of Christmas, just like mine has. Because even though we love the presents and we love the traditional meals that we can count on every year, the real meaning of the season is gathering together to celebrate Jesus’ birth and to remember all that His birth means for us. It’s a reminder that we’re not alone, that God cares, and that we’re worth it. So, for everybody reading this right now—whether you’re at a high point or low point in life—I hope you’ll take some time to celebrate Jesus and the impact He has made in our world and in our lives. It’s Christmas!