I am sure all of you have seen Charlie Brown’s Christmas at some point in your life. I have probably watched it every single year. I know that we are supposed to feel a little sorry for the outcast character that Charlie portrays, but really, I think he ends up having the best Christmas of all.
Just in case you haven’t seen it, or it’s been awhile, the show follows Charlie’s search for the real meaning of Christmas. He has a vague feeling that it can’t all be about gifts and commercialism, but doesn’t know where to go for the answer.
I really can’t blame him, it can definitely be confusing this time of year. Even if we know it isn’t all about presents or decorations, we can substitute seemingly good, innocent things like family for the real reason we are all celebrating.
It can be hard to stay focused on the reason for the season when we feel pulled in a million directions and pressured to do it all. One thing I like to do during Christmas time is to read the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke in the Bible. I try to really put myself in the place of Mary and how she felt when she heard the angel’s announcement. I think of Joseph and wonder what on earth he thought? And those shepherds, wow, what must that have been like to see a host of angels?
Basically I try to recapture the wonder of the Son of God coming to us in the form of a baby in a manger. When I take the time to slow down and do that I feel a little like Charlie Brown after his buddy Linus finally explained Christmas to him. Charlie gets this kind of goofy smile on his face, picks up his scrawny little Christmas tree and skips out into the snow where a million stars twinkle down on him.
May you find time this year to really feel the wonder of that first Christmas. To allow the awe and mystery to put a goofy little smile on your face. And maybe even break out in a Christmas song.
“Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!” Luke 2:10-11
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