Christmas in plain sight
Jesus in a world of grinches and scrooges
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!
Advent is a special time in the yearly rhythms of those who follow Christ. A time to herald, sing songs, reflect, worship, and proclaim the good news—all culminating on Christmas Day!
In a world of grinches and scrooges who have either stolen or scoffed at its truest meaning in favor of something diluted and far removed—it is a time to revisit commonly overlooked elements. Since the days of Coca-cola marketing campaigns, this overly commercialized holiday profited ($$$) many in the name of "inclusion." But it was at the expense of its already universal invitation to look, behold, and encounter the fullest experience of love and the truest sense of peace. Beyond the numerous gifts you may receive this year (each of which will lose luster and novelty), the Christmas Story is a powerful life-transforming gift to all!
There are many time-honored traditions interwoven into the tapestry that is Christmas. An assortment of beautiful indicators and symbols signal the glorious event that split history—the spark that fanned the flame of a faith movement that became the foundation for Western civilization as we know it. We live entrenched in a society that is now actively seeking to divorce itself from the catalytic figure of Christ. When distilled and experienced unequivocally, Christmas is an unadulterated paradigm shift that turns our world upside down and inside out.
This Christmas, we want to recapture some of what was lost. Consider this a friendly reminder of all the glorious illustrations and allusions to the birth of the world's Savior.
Have a look around at the decor in your home…
Angels
These heralding heavenly beings who serve as God's messengers appear throughout the Christmas story. Joseph's dream regarding his marriage to Mary, appearing to Mary about the miraculous conception and name of her baby boy, and the shepherds in the fields on the day of Jesus' birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the new-born king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Christmas Trees
Evergreen trees full of life can withstand the harshest of winters, symbolizing the durable new life we have in Christ, this side of heaven, and the eternal life to come.
"So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy." Ephesians 4:22-24
We read a book called "Pick a pine tree" to our children each Christmas.
Stars
Tree toppers with this glistening symbol signify the star of Bethlehem, which guided the magi to Jesus. We had a brief discussion recently about the biblical accuracy of typical nativity decor, often depicting the shepherds and magi visiting the newborn King the same day/night. It was more than likely that Jesus was somewhere between the age of forty days and two years old when the magi found him.
"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:10-11
Lights & Ornaments
Little trinkets or baubles hung on the tree can remind us of fond memories, children's first Christmases, places we've been, a particular time in life, etc. We try to balance this assortment with ornaments like doves (Holy Spirit), a lamb (the sacrifice of Jesus), candy canes (shepherd's staff), and stars (Bethlehem). Finally, no tree is complete without a bundle of ornate lights wrapped all around, which brings to mind The Light of the world.
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'" John 8:12
Candy Canes
These striped candies take the shape of a shepherd's staff and, when turned upside down, look like the letter "J." The red represents the blood Christ shed to save us, and the white represents Jesus' work to cleanse us of our sins, making us pure—white as snow.
We've regularly read a book called "The legend of the candy cane" to our children this year. Highly recommend checking it out!
Poinsettias
These vibrant flowers have a subtle olfactive profile and are a great addition to any Christmas decor. The red-colored bracts, which are not the flower's petals, symbolize the star of Bethlehem.
Santa Claus
Our conversations surrounding the fictional character of Santa Claus always reference St. Nicholas of Myra, an actual historical figure. As a great defender of Christian orthodoxy, he may or may not have been in attendance at the Council of Nicea.
Our Family's Annual Traditions
Daily Advent Worship
Daily scripture reading (to hang up on a garland), a simple wooden nativity set, weekly memory verses, and weekly worship songs—all have allowed us to focus on the central message of Christmas!
Garland Making
Steph has made this into a fun-filled activity with the kids. This year they put together a garland made of dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, and trimmings from our Christmas tree.
Crowns & Christmas Crackers
During Christmas dinner, we pass around Christmas Crackers filled with surprises (sometimes crowns, candy, small personalized gifts, and jokes written on a piece of paper). These party favors have been part of British tradition dating all the way back to Victorian times.