Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

 

Dear Rev. Graham: My kids say I get grumpy as Christmas approaches. I deny it, but they speak the truth. I feel dread in my spirit. When I examine my thoughts, it becomes clear. My grumpiness is because of my “to-do list”: shopping, cooking, decorating, and entertaining while pretending I’m filled with Christmas joy. Deceitful. I’ve set a standard for everything festive except making the Christ child the feature! I’ve relegated the reason for the season to a dark corner, stashing the nativity behind the tree. Box checked off. I convince myself that if I change any little tradition, my family will rebel. Or will they? Is the tradition for me, or for them? Perhaps if I reset the nativity to the front of the tree and stash everything else in a dark corner, maybe my joy will be restored. Is there hope of changing darkness to light? – C.G.

 

Dear C.G.: It may sound like Scrooge – but many hate to see Christmas coming. Our spending gets out of control and we become cranky. Instead of peace and goodwill, the season becomes filled with exhaustion and resentment. This isn’t Christmas.

There’s nothing wrong with saying no to doing things the same way, particularly if there’s a better way to do them. Having a good Christmas is to rediscover its true meaning. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven to save us from our sins. May we see His glory!

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they came into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:10–11, NKJV). Jesus is the Light of the World!

————

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)