The Christmas trees are decorated, the cooking and last minute baking are about to begin, and the presents are nestled under the tree as Christmas sits right before our eyes. It’s hard to imagine that another year has come and gone so quickly. I used to think about how long a year felt as a child, and yet somehow, it now feels like the blink of an eye. And as I blink again, Christmas 2022 will be here. The older I grow, the more I realize how fleeting time really is and how much value it actually holds. I see my grandparents aging rapidly, I see my parents somehow become mortal, I see more fine lines and gray hairs, and then I begin to realize how quickly it will all be gone. And this year at Christmas, it is another reminder of how valuable the gift of time really is.
You see, each passing year, Christmas can quickly become nothing more than a race to finish wrapping gifts, a marathon to cook the best dinner, and an exhaustive effort to make everything perfect as we open our homes to our loved ones. We browse our favorite magazines or social media apps to find the best ways to display our tables, hang our garlands, and present the magazine-worthy home we want to achieve. And while those elements of Christmas can be a blessing, they can also be a hinderance when we value them at the expense of others. Our efforts to create the perfect Christmas can easily lead us to neglect what truly matters most. They can distract us from the closeness of our spouses and children. They can distract us from quality time with our friends and neighbors. They can distract us from the true reason of Christmas in the first place: the birth of Christ. No amount of Christmas decor or presents can replace the value of the people we still have in our lives. And it certainly can’t replace the value of the gift of Jesus. And if we aren’t careful, the pursuit of the “perfect Christmas” can create sorrow-filled memories when we value the material aspects of Christmas over our loved ones.
Finding the perfect gift is fun, but it isn’t more important than spending quality time with our families. Decorating our homes elaborately can be exciting, but it isn’t more important than giving a helping hand to someone in need. Cooking the most extravagant meal can be a gift, but it isn’t more important than those who will gather around our tables to eat it. This Christmas, may we all remember the true meaning of the season and may we cherish it richly with our loved ones. May we remember how fleeting time is and take full advantage of the time we have been given together. May we treat each Christmas as though it may be our last with those around us. No one will remember if the ornaments were perfectly positioned on the tree, no one will remember the outfit you wore to Christmas dinner, and no one will remember every material gift they receive. If we have our priorities placed correctly, they will remember our patience and generosity during the stress of the season. They will remember the laughter that comes when wonderful memories are made. They will remember the efforts made to invest into each other’s lives. They will remember how much emphasis we place on materialism versus the emphasis we place on the gift of Jesus. They will remember how precious the gift of time really is.
As Christmas arrives tomorrow, let us remember that this holiday is so much deeper than “stuff”. Let us rejoice in the birth of our King and share in the joy of that reminder together. Enjoy decorating your homes with the smiles of your family, enjoy baking with and making memories with the grandkids, enjoy sharing laughter and a wonderful meal around the table. Keep Christ the focus, and remember that one of the greatest gifts you can give this Christmas isn’t more stuff, it is your heart. Merry Christmas to you all. May you have a wonderful and blessed day!
