Keeping Christmas
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”
In the well-known and beloved book A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is initially a miserly, miserable man. After his transformative experience, he becomes an inspirational ambassador of good will. Dickens’ famous character teaches us about redemption, generosity, forgiveness, and kindness as well as the importance of friendship, relationships, family, and living in the present.
But can we allow Christmas to live in our hearts throughout the year? How might we do that?
We can continue to pray that The Holy Spirit will give us the kind of faith in God that Mary and Joseph had in unpresented circumstances. May we entrust our lives to Him as they did to accomplish God’s will.
We can pray that we might know the wonder of the shepherds as we experience the miracles and love of God in our lives. Then may we have the courage to share the Good News of His grace with others.
May we grow in generosity so that we, like the wise men, offer our best to Jesus Christ every day.
We can pray that we will follow Jesus more closely, growing to reflect Him more fully.
Lord God teach us to keep Christmas well 365 days a year! Amen.