The Season is upon us! To commemorate and get us in the Spirit I have assembled some quotes that remind us of True Reason for the Season and others that recall our favorite memories at Christmastime. The first come from the inventor and founding Father who said, “How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!” (Benjamin Franklin). There is a title for members in Churches known as CEO: Christmas and Easter Only. Franklin’s words seem harsh, like blizzard to start with, however, it is worth pondering, why churches and family members in Christ are eager to celebrate Christ’s b-day, but few do what he says? I will say in rebuttal to Franklin, Christmas brings out the love in people and Jesus focal teaching was that we love one another, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35), and since Xmas makes that easier to do, I say all the law and prophets are fulfilled at Christmastime.
The mantra “Keep Christ in Christmas” has been tied to a campaign to retake Christmas which has been drowned in folklore and commercialism. However, it usually boils down to a pin or a sign or a bumper sticker. One person had a better idea of how to keep Christ in Christmas said, “Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.”
(Steve Maraboli). This list is actually Christ’s own teachings compiled into a list. I think its worth trying to improve on one of these this year, not to merit anything with God, but to grow in love and kindness.
The author of the beloved Little House on The Prairie books said, “Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.”
(Laura Ingalls Wilder). Christ our Lord said that to enter the Kingdom we must be be like children (Matthew 18:3), so Christmas time is a good place to start.
There is something comforting about the aspects of Christmas that stay the same, as if it is an echo of Christ who never changes, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). One who captures the eternal aspect of Xmas is Mr. Longfellow,
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow).
Indeed the carols take us back! “Noel,” “Hark Harold Angel Sings,” “Gloria,” “Silent Night,” and so many more transport us to all the times we sang them, but more importantly they commune us with Christ and connected us to saints around the world who sing them every year!
Do you get tired of hearing Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings? Well Mr. Dave Barry has words on it that may make you laugh and feel some catharsis,
“In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!”
I remember the campaign to bring back Merry Christmas. Now you see plagues in stores. I think it is said sales associates are afraid to say Merry Christmas, when of you watch Miracle on 31st Street or any holiday movie before the 2000’s, they say “Merry Christmas.”
We often can recall our memories of waiting on Christmas Eve night to pass and wake up to unwrap presents under the tree. And yet there are many presents from our Creator we may have missed,
“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans--and all that lives and move upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused--and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself.”
(Sigrid Undset). I love this list pf the beauties God has given us, especially the mountains and stats. Of course the greatest Gift was Himself in a Manger.
It is easy to become annoyed by the commercialism of Christmas, we can become critical and prone to judge all of this as a facade of fa-la-la-la-la lunacy. But perhaps we should take another look and consider the words of Hamilton Wright Mable, “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” In an age of conspiracy theories, I gotta say this is the one conspiracy I and I believe Christ can get behind.
I have written extensively about the real St. Nicholas and the war between folklore and faith. For a short revist of that I give you, “The reality of loving God is loving him like he's a Superhero who actually saved you from stuff rather than a Santa Claus who merely gave you some stuff.” (Criss Jami). Indeed, Christ is a hero who saved us from eternal fire, and had shown us how to love. Santa Claus’ gifts will be forgotten in the years to come, but our Savior’s Gift of Eternal Life will last forever.
Calvin and Hobbes is a classic worthy of standing beside The Peanuts. Its author made a funny quip about how we let product placement not pastors teach us the meaning of Christmas, “Oh look, yet another Christmas TV special! How touching to have the meaning of Christmas brought to us by cola, fast food, and beer.... Who'd have ever guessed that product consumption, popular entertainment, and spirituality would mix so harmoniously?
Bill Watterson, The Essential Calvin and Hobbes). So humorous, it is a marvel how companies made synthesis of faith and footlongs; coke and Christ. I am not sure if we should confront it or clap at how good they are at it.
This next one is two great quotes together because they cover the same subject matter, “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas,” (Calvin Coolidge), and “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” (Charles Dickens). The idea Christmas is a state of mind and that we should keep it all the year is worthy, but the honest truth is the season is what stoke’s the Christmas spirit most. While I think its possible to keep Christmas all year in your heart, I don’t think the your evergreen tree will last nor will the neighbors appreciate Christmas lights in Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Hence keeping it in your heart.
This next one is a joke that some may find offensive, but I think it speaks some truth about the moral decay at the centers of power, “The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.”
(Jay Leno). Before blasphemy is cried aloud, it was long standing tradition in cities to have a Living Nativity of actors or a Nativity Play, I believe Leno is making a reference to that no suitable people can play The Virgin Mary or Wisemen.
From early December to Christmas Eve, our trees are trimmed and the presents nestled on perfect arrangement. Then come Christmas Morn, and all is torn, ribbon strewn, boxes consume, and all looks like a platoon was loosed on the living room. But there is beauty in the mess, “One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." (Andy Rooney, 1919).
Rooney is right, the mess is one of love, as children pour into boxed and bags of gifts their parents have loving selected. For the neat freaks it maybe something they want to sweep immediately, but there will be a day when we all long for the mess of wrapping paper to make a road across the carpet and hardwood floors.
To end this quote fest, I give you hope, Bob Hope, “When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.” The honest truth is I remember the bubble lights on my tree, caroling, the smiles, and feasting with family more than the gifts; like many I try to return to those little and simple things I remember about the Christmases of the Past. The truth is this Season is marked with little things tied like a bow in our memory, may we keep adding to that ribbon with each Season. Amen.
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