What is Christmas?

What is Christmas? And, how much is 'too much' at Christmas?

Is there any such thing as 'too much of a good thing?'

For some, Christmas is a joy. For others, it is a duty at best, an annoyance at worst. Commercialism certainly thrives on Christmas and many would say it preys on people's good will, sense of obligation or sentimentality.

As for me, there are elements of Christmas I cherish. I love Christmas Carols. I love the idea of giving and sharing with close friends and family. Cliff Richard has a song called, "Saviour's Day" which for me, says it all. I love the song because it puts the emphasis on Jesus, without the holiday fervour or excess of 'too much' eating, drinking or spending.

There is a great gift of Christmas. And I'm not going to say the cliche of Christ. I think in Christmas there is a primary lesson; it is not about tinsel, nor about children, not even about the baby Jesus.

I think Christmas is about love.

We may not like everyone we meet, but we can choose to love them. We can learn from Jesus what he came and shared about love, so that we can get along better and enjoy life far more all 365 days of the year.

Love came down at Christmas in the package of a baby boy. Love grew up and shared his understanding of what it means to love one another on a massive scale.

If we can learn to love as Jesus taught about love, then we can learn to cope at work when the person in the next cubical is annoying. We can accept the choices other people make, even when we believe their choices are bad choices. We can engage with people we seem to have nothing in common with, knowing we are all part of humanity.

As I celebrate the Season of Christmas this year, I'm going to choose to cope with, accept and engage with others lovingly, knowing we are all imperfect people aiming to protect ourselves and share with others whatever part of us we think is best to offer. This is my choice for this day, and for every day.

I won't drop in at An Examined Life next week because it's Christmas Day. I hope you and yours will enjoy - in your own way - the day and the season, in the fullness of your understanding of what it's all about. From me to you, God bless! Personally, I don't think there is any such thing as too much love in the world, so I'm hoping Christmas - defined in that light - goes to excess for all.


Love and God bless to you this week. See you next Thursday... AND:




END NOTE: For those who haven't known me for long, and perhaps for some who have: You might enjoy my other blog:
Life from the Lighthouse -- all about what God shows me when He talks to me and I listen. New posts monthly on the 1st.










My website for the Self Publishing House is www.LarusPress.com where I blog on wholeness, witness, the Word of God and worship & warfare. Larus Press offers Christian-based books, blogs and literature to inspire, encourage, equip and empower your living spirit.
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Choice versus Responsibility

My six year old loves to play the violin. Unfortunately, he doesn't very much like to practice. But to play well, and he does want to play well, one has to practice. So, my son's eleven year old cousin began to encourage him. "You'll be so glad you kept going when you are older and can play really well," she said to him. (Thank you Niece!) He acknowledged he likes to play and managed to distinguish between his reaction to my telling him to practice and his actual experience of playing. The next step for him was for him to discover that if he chooses when to practice he has more authority over his violin playing, more freedom, than if I tell him when it is time. It's fun to be able to choose. But his choice is not whether to practice but when. Responsibility is accepting you have to do something and choosing when to do it. My son is learning this.
We all need to learn the difference.
We all want the freedom to make our own choices, but we don't all know responsibility. Every choice carries with it a consequence. If we don't realize this we may be sorely disappointed with how our life turns out. As we choose responsibly our choices are less likely to come back and bite us... to learn to choose wisely is the key.
How do we use our freedom? How do we take the opportunities that come our way and make good choices, if indeed there is a difference between good and bad choices? I think the core is LOVE. If we think of ourselves we will become hedonists. If we consider others and what they will think of us we become fearful and anxious. But if we consider others out of love, respect and consideration for them, we will be better human beings and make an indelible mark on this society of ours. Taking responsibility for ourselves is the first lesson toward maturity. Much later comes responsibility to our family, community and world. If we love, we will not fail.
What is love? "Love is patient and kind, love doesn't seek itself, love is doesn't keep a record of wrongs. Love never fails." 1Corinthians 13 (paraphrased)
My little boy is learning to take responsibility to achieve his aims. He picked up his violin yesterday, after hearing his cousin and choosing to receive her encouragement and common sense, and he practiced. Occasionally he asked me what he should do, but he reviewed a few pieces with almost as much precision and definitely with more enthusiasm than when I lead the practice time. If he can learn to exercise responsibility, we his parents will give him more and more freedom, and he will experience great joy in growing up. Maturity is not the freedom to make choices, but rather, the ability to take responsibility for our desires, goals and aspirations and to work toward making them happen... all within a sphere of compassion and love. Ultimately, we are not responsible to please our parents and others or to act out their ambitions for us. But we are responsible to make a positive (rather than a negative) contribution toward society. Success is not measured by how well a skill is mastered, or even if it is mastered at all. Rather, success depends on our contribution to society. And whether it is through our efforts to achieve educational, monetary or artistic goals or simply by smiling to each passing stranger, we place our mark on our society by how well we demonstrate love. My son does not enjoy the violin because it is intricate and demanding of focus and attention. He enjoys it because of the music he can create. And as he continues and as he grows up, he will learn to share the music with others as an act of love toward them. By carrying with us an attitude to love, we make our society a warmer, less selfish and more inclusive society.