The Passion

I was not intending on eavesdropping. My mind was fixed on my task list for the day when my musings were interrupted by the dialogue nearby regarding Christmas. The two gentlemen, one clearly the commanding elder, discussed the upcoming seasonal plans. To the mentor’s dismay, the holiday served as more of an anomaly. “Christmas is a very strange day for Jewish kids”, went his presentiment. He furthered his view that the experience was of forced busyness all around, commencing the day after Thanksgiving and culminating to an anticlimactic day of observance on the 25th. For the nonbelievers, this simply represents that shops and restaurants are closed on the day and the hectic traffic has died down by year’s end. As I sulked in the unsettling thoughts expressed by this stranger who clearly had no relationship with Christ, he and his confidant moved passed.

How I wished to have shared the full beauty and blessing of the season, glorifying the divine majesty of the Lord. To have honored the salvation that we were afforded when Jesus touched upon the earth thousands of years ago resulting in the amazing Power and Light that transcends time and space even still. The joy in sharing the day with family and friends coming from far and near. The intimacy that stems beyond simple gift giving; but rather, true tokens of love. The gratefulness for the glee shining through in our children’s eyes and the unfussiness of a cup of hot cocoa as we gather by the tree.

Let us pray for those who are being called to Christ; for those yearning for the Spirit of God. Let us thank the Lord for the day that He has made. Let us celebrate the birth of Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you all!

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:9‬: “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.”