The Adventures of Christmas Sample

December 22nd

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is wrapping presents. I hate gift bags. If my wife hands me a gift in a bag, I don’t care how awesome it is, I hand it back. So what if it’s the latest gadget. You better wrap it, in Jesus' name. When I wrap the gifts, I’m really picky. I make sure the lines are even and the tape is hidden. A badly wrapped gift makes me want to cry. I love the Container Store. I pick out separate wrapping paper for each of the people I wrap for. I just might be 10% Elf.

Christmas is full of traditions. Some we hate and some we love.

Notice that in none of the original Christmas stories will you find...

A Christmas tree

Mistletoe

A candy cane

A snowman with a button nose (or a carrot)

A song about Silent Night

A string of Christmas lights around the manger or

A stack of presents (gold, frankincense and myrrh don’t count).

And yet, theirs was electrifying joy, contagious joy, dance worthy joy, because a son was about to be born. Before Christmas lights, as we know them, he was the Light of the World! Before Saint Nick, he brought the Greatest Gift. Before candy canes, he was the Good Shepherd who promised to walk with us through the shadow of death. Before snowmen, he promised to make men white as snow. Before Christmas trees, he died upon a tree to set us free. Before the Christmas holiday, he was The Christ who made every day a holy day.

Joy came before the traditions. Dr. Seuss’ Grinch came to this conclusion when he tried to steal Christmas… and the Who’s of Whoville were still celebrating without toys, trees and feasts. “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps... means a little bit more!” (Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas)

Take time this Christmas to rediscover the meaning behind the madness. Research how some of the traditions got started and how they can point you back to Jesus.