Prayer: The Gate

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It is the traditions and time spent together that make the holidays special.  As our lives transition and change, so do some of the Christmas activities. 

We try to make Christmas magical for children.  Those Christmas expectations stay with us for a long time.  Some of the memories of childhood stay with us forever. 

I remember driving 500 or 600 miles to my grandparents house.  My brother and I were small (I was 7 and he was 2). We were cuddled up in a blanket in the back of an early 1950’s model car driving through the heartland of America after my dad got off work on Christmas eve. 

It was so cold in the back seat and we tried to sleep.  We would slow down going through small towns and the gas stations would be having “Gas wars”. I remember seeing a sign that said 23 cents per gallon.

We would arrive at Grandma’s house probably around 1:00 in the morning.  There was a soft glow of the Christmas lights on the tree and a plastic Santa that had a light bulb in it stood guard on the front step.  We got hugs and were shuffled off to bed.  My grandmother played the piano, so there was much singing of Christmas songs for 2 days. We would eat turkey or beef brisket and potatoes and chocolate stars and peanut clusters until my brother threw up. We would sing some more. Then we would return home.  Christmas was a wonderful memory for me.

Then you grow up and it changes.  Maybe you live far away or start a family of your own.

It continues to change.  Your children grow up and begin traditions of their own.  They celebrate Christmas with one family Christmas eve and Christmas day with the other.  Sometimes they can’t make it home for Christmas at all.

We hold onto certain expectations and I think that is why so many people suffer from depression during the holidays.  It is never quite the same as we remember.  Or it should be something else.  Where is the magic?  Where is the peace on earth, or in our souls?  Where is the money we need for cool and trendy gifts?

I want to share the thought that however we spend our time on Christmas as far as family and friends go, it is simply a bonus.  The real deal is God sent his only son to reconcile us to him.  The gift of salvation is the big idea.  Cookies, Christmas songs, holiday lights, green bean casserole, and wrapping paper are just bling and add-ons.

Keep the joy in your heart regardless of what transition your Christmas celebration brings this year.  You are loved.  The meaning remains the same.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 4:44 pm and is filed under Holidays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.