December 5, 2004

Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

We see it written everywhere. It’s a catchy, cute little phrase, but every time I see it I wonder if it’s true.

Any Christian with even a little Bible knowledge knows that Jesus wasn’t born in December. Being raised in a Southern Baptist Church, I was told my entire life that Christmas was Jesus’s birthday. I was quite shocked when I discovered, as an adult, that this was untrue. I recall telling my brother a few years ago that Christmas was indeed NOT Jesus’s birthday and he looked at me like I had lost my mind. [Of course he was raised in the same church as me.]

The Bible doesn’t give us the date of Jesus’s birth, but because of weather conditions and other information given in God’s Word, we know his birth would have been before the end of October, most likely in September.

So how in the world did we all end up celebrating ‘Jesus’s birth’ on December 25? There was a pagan celebration that happened at that time every year that included trees and lights and much merriment. This festival was the feast of the winter solstice known as Saturnalia.

The early church never celebrated ‘Christmas’. To be sure, if Christians were expected to commemorate the birth of Christ, we would have most certainly have been given the date. The pagan celebration was ‘adopted’ into Christianity around the third or fourth century. It was relabeled as a celebration of the birth of Christ so the heathen could keep their tradition while still adhering to some sort of nominal Christianity. That Christmas was originally a pagan celebration is beyond all doubt.

To be sure, many, if not most Americans celebrating Christmas don’t think much about the Lord at all. They ‘know’ that the day is supposed to be Jesus’s birthday, but to them it’s a time for parties and fun.

Most Christians today do sing wonderful songs about Christ and use the time to spread the Word. Even the bulk of the ones who are well versed on the origins of the day have decided to take advantage of the ‘opportunity’ to share Christ at this time of year when people have at least passing thoughts of Him. They think the origins don’t matter as long as they are glorifying the Lord now.

Of course, some Christians DON’T celebrate Christmas. They reject is as an abomination and have nothing to do with it.

In my family, we celebrate Christmas with gift giving and time spent together. My children know ‘Christmas’ has nothing to do with Christ, but I was never able (willing) to reject the festivities altogether.

I send out cards with a message of Christ and a letter to update friends and relatives of any family news. I use it as a time to let loved ones know I’m thinking of them.

Even so I can’t escape the image of Satan laughing at us all, as we’re sucked into the tradition. So whenever I see or hear, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” I always think to myself, “Is He? Really? Are you sure?”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mom seems to be doing well, but seems tired much of the time. I’m pretty sure this is a sign of another UTI and I need to remember to call Dr. Young and Handsome tomorrow to get her an antibiotic.

I did Community Service last week with a friend from work. The Secret Place pays us for that once a year. We went to the local Ronald McDonald House and did some cleaning and envelope stuffing. Since we were close by Facility, we dropped by to see Mom afterward.

She was a little bit loopy, but managed to drink the Ensure I brought her and had some smiles and kisses for us.

Walking back to my car my friend stroked my back and said, “I’m so sorry. I know that’s hard for you.”

“Oh, I’m used to it. It’s okay,” I replied.

She still seemed rather shaken and she said, “You’re a good daughter. I can tell you love your mother very much.”

“Yes, I do. I really do.” I smiled at her and tried to put her at ease.

I had not even thought about how it would be for someone unaccustomed to such an atmosphere. I’ve been hanging out with old sick people for several years now.

We were supposed to go out to dinner, but we were both wiped out from sleep deprivation the night before, so I took her back to the Secret Place and went home and crashed!

[We had arranged for her to spend the night at my house because she lives outside the city and doesn’t get off work til 1 A.M. The plan was for her to come over after work. I had just ingested a Tylenol PM when the phone rang. “I locked my keys in my trunk. Can you come and get me?” Arg! So off I went for the 20 minute drive to The Secret Place. By the time I got back, I was nowhere near sleep. With my insomnia problem, I ended up only getting 2 hours of sleep. Even without insomnia, she only got 4 hours, so neither one of us was bright eyed and bushy tailed.]

Next weekend I’m meeting Karen if it doesn’t snow!

Isaiah 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.