As Christmas approaches, thoughts of that special birthday have crowded my mind for the last week or so. As I wrestle with my beliefs, the remembrance of Christ's birth is a perfect place to start. I've been thinking a lot about how we celebrate Christmas. Not the secular world, but we Christians. I've read some challenging blogs and facebook posts over the last few days. I must confess that in many cases our celebrations look exactly like the world's, with some church services and "Jesus" songs thrown in. Is this how it should be?
Before I go on, I need to be honest. It is easy for me to be legalistic. It is in my comfort zone to put myself and God in a neat little box. Here is what is good and right. Here is what is wrong. I am a perfectionist. I agonize over choosing the correct path.
Over the 22 years I have walked with the Lord, I have put a lot of importance on celebrating in a way that would bring Jesus to the forefront. I wanted my children to know without a doubt what Christmas is all about. Our family has many, and I mean many traditions. Some we tried on for a year or two and I just couldn't make them work with children from age 1 to 20. Some we have kept in place for decades. We read the story of Jesus from the book of Luke every Christmas morning. We are intentional about spiritual things. We have researched the origins of traditions. We have limited the gifts in different ways over the years. When it is all said and done, I still have to wonder.
I love the holidays. I will watch all the corny Hallmark movies. I play Christmas music, especially the oldies, until my teenagers are losing their minds. I watch the specials - Rudolph, the Grinch, Charlie Brown. With all this we have never placed a real focus on Santa. We don't ignore the concept completely, we just don't make a big deal of it. The kids don't write letters, or sit on the lap of a mall Santa. We do leave cookies and milk, and there is one gift for each child under 13 wrapped in Santa paper under the tree. I love the decorations, the baking, the projects - the whole kit and caboodle!
A pastor friend asked the question, "What grace-filled traditions does your family have at Christmas?" He went on to explain that while the standard concept is to be good so you deserve a gift, and giving presents to those that love us and bring us joy. The truth is that Jesus came as a gift for us when we are not good, we don't deserve it. I love the question, but I don't have a real answer for it, yet. It seems like this is a perfect time of year to practice extending grace. I want some practical ways to put this thought into action.
Another friend has me thinking again about traditions. Some wonderful links on her blog have caused me to wonder anew about the riches we enjoy every day, and our reluctance to share and get involved with others. Oh, I know many of us write a check, giving our offering. That is a good thing, as far as it goes. That being said, I have really been challenged by our pastor that following Jesus means doing more than that. Where am I personally ministering - outside of the church walls? Am I caring for orphans, widows, prisoners, the downtrodden? Am I willing to go outside of my comfort zone to do for people who may not seem to appreciate it? Will I DO something? Or will I sit back in my insulated "Christian" world, write a check now and again to "do my part" while never really being the hands and feet of Jesus to anyone outside my family and friends? Who am I reaching out to?
As all this swirls around in my mind, I feel such a weight. I'm seeking and searching. It is a good thing. In the meantime, what does a girl like me do for fun? Well, as much as some people might be horrified by the thought, I cook. I absolutely love creating food for others. It is relaxing. It is exciting. Tonight, I made German chocolate cupcakes. We have a family friend who was on my mind, a single man, who loves German chocolate cake. I didn't think one guy needed to eat a whole cake, but wanted to give him a little housewarming gift as he moves into a new home. Making the batter from scratch, deciding to add a ganache, toasting the coconut and pecans before making the icing just to give it that extra "yum" factor, all of that is so satisfying. If after all that, someone takes a bite of something I have prepared and has that moment of joy that comes from tasting something fine, I am well pleased. I guess you could say it is the icing on the cake.
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