Simply Christmas

It's a Wonderful Life. Sugar cookies. Christmas trees. Nativity scenes. Snow. The AFLBS Christmas concerts. Grandma's caramel popcorn. Advent wreaths. Fudge. Sparkling lights. Wrapping paper. Family. Christmas carols. 

When I think of Christmas, I think of such things. They're the things that come to mind that make me think, "It just wouldn't be Christmas without . . ." And yet, without these things, Christmas does indeed still happen.

While she blesses us with her delicious popcorn at Thanksgiving or perhaps every other year, Christmas has indeed happened without Grandma's homemade caramel popcorn. 

While we're beginning to start our own family Christmas traditions, Christmas has indeed happened without us traveling to visit our parents and siblings. 

While it was a tradition to watch It's a Wonderful Life growing up to the extent that it drove Dad nuts, Christmas has indeed happened without a viewing. 

We get so wrapped up in the "stuff" of Christmas, don't we? We get to the point where it doesn't seem like Christmas can happen without certain things . . . and yet, it does.

Because Christmas is simple. Profoundly humbling. Incredibly amazing. Beyond our comprehension. But simple.

Because Jesus did not come as He deserved. His birth was not announced to royalty nor was He born in a decent building. There were no trumpets, no parades, no national holiday beginning that day. There was no snow, no cookies to celebrate, and maybe even no singing.

"Christ Jesus . . . although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 

"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem . . . in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, they days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and she wrapped him in clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." - Philippians 2:5-7; Luke 2:1, 3-7 (NASB, emphasis mine)

As it began simple - amazing, and well-deserving of our awe, praise, respect, and recognition - may we keep it simple. May we keep it about the Savior. The One who came after being so-long awaited. The Messiah who came to save the world. The One whose love we cannot comprehend.

Thank You, Father, for Christmas.

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*This is the last blog to be written for this Grounded 3.17 blog, a ministry of the AFLC Youth Ministries. All of us, as authors, have been blessed and encouraged to be a part of this ministry. If this blog has impacted the life of just one, then our job has been complete. May the Lord bless each one of you as you continue to seek Him daily.