Christmas is fast approaching and, not surprisingly, my kids and grandchildren are looking forward to seeing what’s under the tree. The grandkids, at least, are still young enough that they are waiting with bated breath to learn what treasures they’ll be receiving. Ridge has already peeled back the corner to discover one of his presents. I can’t get too mad though. I used to do the same thing. I love all of this. I enjoy their anticipation and am excited to experience their joy as they unwrap what Margie and I have bought for them. It promises to be a good morning.
I see a lot of texts and articles saying that we should keep Christmas simple this year. After all, we need to keep Christ in Christmas and not succumb to materialism, right? They say the first Christmas was very quiet and simple. I disagree. From singing angels, busy Bethlehem, a manger with a baby and animals, and a group of scruffy, smelly shepherds doesn’t sound too simple to me. I find it amazing how God uses every situation and circumstance to bring glory to Himself.
At the same time, I think we all feel a little bit of tension between the dual purposes of Christmas—the giving of gifts and the birth of the Savior. It is this time of year when we encounter all kinds of articles about the real gift of Christmas and when we are warned about spending too much money or buying gifts that are too lavish.
I also disagree with this. I don’t think there has to be any tension at all between Jesus and gifts, both are good. I don’t think we gain anything as Christians when we continually seek out this tension or when we load people with guilt who are excited to find out what’s under the tree.
Jesus isn’t threatened by Christmas gifts. He doesn’t get better when we diminish or downplay them or ignore them altogether. We don’t threaten the wonder of the incarnation when we give nice gifts to the ones we love and when we look forward to receiving them. I believe we can just enjoy them on their own terms; we can enjoy them as one of God’s innumerable blessings to us. I’m convinced God is thrilled when we give good gifts, when we receive good gifts, when we enjoy good gifts. He’s a loving Father and what loving father doesn’t take joy in the joy of his children?
In the Cook home (really at the Barnes home) we will celebrate the birth of Jesus at our Christmas Eve service. After that we will return home to a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses with some friends and then head off to Loganville. On Christmas day we will undoubtedly get up early, awakened by two excited little guys. We’ll sit around and watch the boys pull the trinkets out of their stockings. Then we will exchange gifts. We will eat a special breakfast together. We will do it all, every bit of it, to the glory of God. We will do it all as one great, two-day-long event that unashamedly enjoys all of God’s gifts.