This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. ~ John 3:16 MSG

 

(Singing) “It’s the most wonderful time of the year..”! Well at least it should be. I’ve just recently needed to shake myself free from a bit of a Christmas funk. For my entire adult life, Christmas has been filled with “moments” that absolutely have me counting down the days until the season begins each year. Everything from putting on the “Christmas with Babyface” playlist, to trying to act modest as my family begs me to bake the Ham and fry the turkey, to decorating the tree…, all of it used to bring me so much joy. That is until life changed up on me seemingly overnight!

 

For me, the JOY of the Christmas playlist came from the moments of singing every song and dancing together with my family all around. The JOY of the Christmas cooking was in the moments when the family would run to line up for the pre-dinner sampling of the turkey and the ham. And the JOY of putting up the Christmas tree was all about the moment when the youngest of our three kids would place the angel atop the tree, signifying for the entire family that the wait was finally over and the tree was ready to be lit!! 

 

Shamefully, for so many years, the JOY of Christmas in my life was ALL ABOUT those moments with family. That’s terrible I know…, but if I’m being honest, I’m only realizing this tragic truth now because the landscape of my family has begun to change. No more little ones in the house chatting among themselves about which Christmas songs to play first. No more mini mouths drooling in the kitchen before dinner as I try my darndest to impress them with my counterfeit “Iron Chef” skills. And for the past two years all of the kids are now “adulting”..., either working or in college with very little free time to help poor old dad put up the tree! I really am embarrassed to admit it, but for a minute the JOY of my Christmas was fading because our babies were growing up.

 

Today I believe this devotion is more for me than anyone else. I need a reminder of something I’ve said, even preached multiple times: Jesus is the reason for the season! Cliche I know. But in regards to the real JOY OF CHRISTMAS, my focus desperately has to be refocused! 

 

The love of God is indeed worthy of singing and dancing! It certainly deserves a feast of epic proportions! And it’s absolutely a time to deck the halls and trim the tree! But the JOY of those moments should never be centered around anything or anyone but JESUS!

 

Going forward, I’m still going to listen to my favorite Christmas playlist. And I think I’m probably still going to bake the ham, fry a turkey, and put up the tree. But this year and every year after…each celebratory custom in our home will be ALL ABOUT the JOY of my salvation! My Heavenly Father loved me so dearly that He sent His son JESUS into this world so that I may have a life filled with grace, mercy, and peace! Now that’s a Christmas moment that’ll never change!

 

A simple prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for sending the gift of Jesus into the world. The birth of Salvation is the true JOY of Christmas! Glory to God in the highest, forever and ever! AMEN.