The winter season has always ignited a special feeling of anticipation inside me. I do not remember a time without that excitement! Ironically, it has never been about the gifts on Christmas day for me, but the gift of Jesus Christ’s birth for everyone!
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders and he will be called; Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NLT
It is not enough to think about this special day for me. We must begin celebrating by decorating! I always like to start with the tree. Filling the holes in a real or artificial Christmas tree is so enjoyable. The holes are the spots on the tree where the branches do not come together, and therefore leave a big empty space.
Ken, however, immensely dislikes putting up the tree. He watched my huge smile as I filled the holes in our artificial tree. “Karen, you really do love doing this, don’t you? Why?” He gave this question with incredible disbelief in his tone.
I did not know how to respond. Decorating for Christmas is just enjoyable for me. Why was it not important to him? Ken is not a Bah Humbug person, but it certainly had me thinking. He loves the Lord and just likes to do different things.
Preparation by decorating, conveys the degree of my feelings for this special day and what Christ’s birth did for all mankind.
Why is Christmas so special to me? It is the sign of Jesus’s birth and a forever gift to me and all mankind.
Our sin is like the holes in a tree. We are full of sin. Jesus came to save us and take away our ‘holes’.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. 1 Peter 2:24 NLT
Jesus was born to die for our sins so we could connect back to our righteous Father who cannot look at sin. Jesus took our penalty for our sins.
Are your children wrapped up in the hype of the holiday? It is not about what gifts we can receive, but that Jesus was born to die to save us. Filling holes is what Jesus did for all of us! Do we understand that?
