If you were to ask my children what is the meaning of Christmas, they would dutifully reply, “The birth of Jesus.” But I know them better than that. To these three elementary-aged children, Christmas is really about opening presents, baking cookies, decorating the tree and getting on the roof with Daddy to string twinkle lights.
Sure, we read the Christmas story, attend candlelight services and quote the obligatory, “Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season”, while simultaneously wiping tears from their eyes and drool off their chins in the “Barbie” aisle of Toys R Us. But if I could see into my children’s hearts, I would understand that to them, Christmas is about more than the birth of Jesus. It’s about celebrating the birth of Jesus.
I recently learned that is also the heart of God. Feeling like Jesus had gotten lost in the frenzy of the holiday season, I asked the Lord to show me what I could do to teach my children the true meaning of Christmas. I was caught off-guard when He simply replied, “Don’t do anything differently. Look in the middle of the celebration and you will find Me.”
He was right. There was no need to orchestrate moments to pontificate about “the commercialization of Christmas.” Instead, Jesus was beckoning me to come to the party and bring the kids. In doing so, we ran into Him at the mall, the movies, even at school. He hid in the lights, the carols, and the cards. He was there when we dressed the Evergreen tree, when Dad dressed up in a red suit, and when we ate turkey and dressing!
We got caught up in all the trappings of Christmas only to discover that it was neither the enemy nor the world that set the bait. It is my desire to lure Christian parents into the hustle and bustle of Christmas and then set them free to join their children in the celebration – guilt-free.
This book will be laid out in the traditional Advent formula. For each of the 24 days preceding Christmas we will explore a particular aspect of the Christmas celebration. It is amazing how short a distance you have to go to find Jesus in our present-day symbols and traditions. We will encounter the true meaning of Christmas in such unlikely places as a candy cane, a partridge in a pear tree, or a stolen kiss underneath the mistletoe. We will re-discover the significance in Santa Claus, Christmas lights and the giving of gifts.
It would be the obvious choice to read this book straight through, one day at a time. Although, I prefer to keep the book handy and while opening presents, baking cookies, decorating the tree and getting on the roof to string twinkle lights, look for meaning in “The ADVENTure of Christmas” as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Do you like it? I sure hope so. Now, click on the link below and go admire some of the beautiful illustrations from ‘The ADVENTure of Christmas’ that will accompany the chapters.
http://www.donagelsinger.com/
