Dec. 4, 2019

Is Jesus still the reason

Good morning from the farm🌞

I believe this may be this first holiday season that my husband and I have no travel plans. Usually after harvest we both were ready to pack a bag and get away. This year he asked me where did I want to go over the holidays? I said, oh I don’t know. He said, do you want to go see your family? I said, of course, I always want to go see my family, but to be perfectly honest, I am tired. I am not sure if I feel up to going anywhere. He looked at me like, Grandma GoGo, don’t want to GoGo? I know hard to believe! I love to go and see the world. There are so many things to see and most often you don’t have to adventure far from the back yard. Now, I may change my mind and pack a bag at the spur of moment, but as right now, sitting at home holding my husbands hand sounds pretty adventurous to me.

Yesterday, while out Christmas shopping my heart was just grieved, what has happened to people’s Joy? The season is suppose to be holly jolly as we celebrate the Messiah’s birth. Most of you know I love to watch people. Not stare or stalk, that would be creepy, but I like to call it behavior observation since I studied psychology in college. You know if you studied it while in college, it makes you an expert! 😂.
Anyhow back to what I would like to blog about this morning.

As I watched people place objects in and out of their carts, check lists, frown, mumble, sort, stack, look some more, I thought have we forgotten what the season is truly all about? As I went from store to store it was pretty much the same.

I am a traditional Christmas decorator, I would rather wait till after Thanksgiving. Please I am not trying to offend anyone that decorates for Christmas the day after Independence Day, but leave a few items for us to buy. The decor that was left, was picked over and I had to go with something entirely different than I had planned.
As I and another lady searched a box of ribbon, that was clearly not going to be sold, I picked up that mumbling spirit. (That’s a whole sermon right there, be careful who you surround yourself with)I started complaining and sighing. Then she said, I bought that old gold glitter ribbon one year. I used it to make bows for my children’s gifts and there was glitter at my house, and my children’s home for months. I started to chime in a negative comment myself, but stopped myself. I thought, oh no I have allowed those around me all day to be a Joy zapper! Instead of falling into the whoa is me, and ughhh that gold glitter ribbon comment, I laughed and said, well now you can honestly say you gave them the gift that just kept on giving. I then just reached down, grabbed a few rolls of ribbons and left. At this point I made up my mind just to be happy I had some ribbon.

As I walked to the check out with my mismatched decor and my ugly ribbon I was met with other shoppers that had two or three carts loaded down with perfectly beautiful coordinated decorations. What a sight my cart must had been compared to theirs. As I stood in line waiting, and waiting,,,,,to be checked out. I thought, I wonder what Jesus thinks about all of this? He is the true reason for the season but I don’t see much that resembles anything of his birth. Except maybe those bales of straw left over from Thanksgiving. As I over hear the cashier total up the customers items, I think that sure is a lot of money for just a few things to set up for a few weeks, but to each their own.

Please don’t take this wrong today, I am not anti decorations, anti tree, anti gift or anti Claus, but is Jesus still your reason for the season? It seems to me that in the process we have almost become anti christ at Christmas. What once was a time of family, friends getting together to share the Christmas story, laughs and to make memories, have turned into stress and worry. Stress that everything won’t look perfect, and worrying if everyone will like their gift.

Can we go back to where Christmas is about Jesus and the Joy he brought to all mankind. Where Love was born, where we remember the reason why he was born. He was born to die to live again that we may have every lasting life with him! He was born perfect in an imperfect world, in the most imperfect place, well according to us anyhow. To him, it was perfect, I think he knew that I, in 2019 would stop, look and ask myself, Is Jesus still my reason? Is it truly all about my Savior?

When we stop and take a closer look we realize it has become nothing more than big business to most majority of retail stores. Like I said please don’t think I am anti Christmas, I just want us all to ask ourselves, Is Jesus still the reason? Or have we lost sight that our King of Kings humbled himself in the flesh to be born in a stinky stable.

Are we following his example as we trample over people to shop for the latest gadgets to place under our tree that will not even be a memory in most cases come next year.

Yesterday I seen more people stuffing their carts rather than the Red Salvation Army kettles. I seen more gloom and doom rather than Joy and Peace. More shoving and pushing than caring and sharing.

I don’t think Jesus minds if we decorate, have a tree, lights or gift exchanges, but I do think he has an issue if we have our homes lit up and decked out to the tee and our neighbor is cold and hungry. I was convicted yesterday as shopped. I decided to do a few less decor and a little more Jesus. I found throughout the years it truly is better to give than receive. You know what is even better? When you do it in secret. Leave something for someone without telling anyone. The Lord knows and you can’t out give God! Some of my greatest rewards have come from secretly watching a stranger open up a card or gift that I have left. Just be a modern day Santa for someone in need today. Do you really need another blow up Christmas tree for the yard? I am not saying you don’t, but do you?

I am thankful we have a blessed country where we can enjoy Christmas and still say Merry Christmas, but let’s not forget Jesus really is the reason. Of course Jesus is the reason every day and should be celebrated. Everyday is Christmas when you realize he had the birthday but we received the gift!

If anyone would like to stop by this year to visit for Christmas, you will find me with coffee brewing, a few simple decorations, my husband and my hounds. We will be happy to share a few memories and laughs with you that we can cherish for a life time, unlike that useless sweater that may or may not fit you next year.

Until later........Remember to make memories, don’t let anyone zap your Joy this season. If Jesus is still your reason, won’t you share him with someone that may not know him or has forgotten. Remind them the Jesus that was, still is.........

Luke 2:11-14 KJV
[11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. [12] And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.