Christmas Time Again~

Merry Christmas Readers!


I love the movie Polar Express, the boy hasn't seen Santa, he has been told, seeing isn't always believing. He wants to see, but he has to believe first! By believing he hears the bell, he catches the attention of the big man. In the old version of Miracle on Thirty fourth street the little girl didn't find her gift under the tree, her mom tells Susan that sometimes you have to have faith and believe even when it doesn't make sense. This season is one of belief, one of faith. Faith in mankind, being a little softer, a little kinder, a little nicer.


I have been thinking about this idea of faith, of Santa much. As a child I was so excited for Santa to come, I never realized how absurd the idea of a man in a flying sleigh was. I was a child, I has child like faith in him to come, to bring me the desires of my heart. I wanted dolls, watches, teddy bears, and usually got much more. I of course have fabulous parents who love me dearly. But why do we put our faith in men with white beards who bring us gifts that lay broken after a time, or outgrown after time. I think of the real reason for Christmas this morning.


Christmas is not about Santa for me anymore. It hasn't been in a while. I find more joy in the giving then in the receiving. But I think today of the reason we celebrate this season. The ultimate gift giver. We celebrate Christmas today because of the birth of our Savior. The story of his birth hold miracles, of a virgin mother, who gave birth to her child, angels announcing his birth, stars shining brightly in the sky. And wise men searching for him from afar.


I know the stories of those who took part in the birth of our Savior, you read them in the bible, but I often think of the Wise men, why were they wise? What made them search out the Savior of the World? What faith they had to follow the signs of his birth, to look until they found him. Do we look like the wise men? Do we seek him today? Our world is so easy to get lost in. Technology, Violence, Sexuality, all the enticing things the world has to offer side track us. We too could get lost on our way to the Savior. But as the Wise men do we seek his path, the signs that lead us to his path?


My year didn't happen like it was supposed to. I thought this Christmas would be different, I was going to have love again. Something I had sought for my entire life. He was going to come home and it was going to be perfect. I had faith, I believed. But Love isn't a gift brought by Santa, wrapped in bows and shiny wrapping paper under the tree. It is given freely, to those around you. Sometimes it is given back in return, sometimes it is not. Sometimes you feel impressed to act, to love someone. Sometimes you think things will work out in a way that makes your life change, and sometimes things don't work out the way you thought but your life is changed anyways. Love has a funny way of doing that. See Love is the reason for this very season. Out of Love our Savior came to earth. Out of love he gave himself as the ultimate gift for each of us. Like in our own love we can choose to accept it, or pass it by. Are we like the wise men? Do we seek him, his love? Or are we like those who pass love by? Do we let his ultimate gift lay wayside because we do not seek him?

I know Christ is the Reason for our season, I know the wise men and women throughout the world reach search for him everyday. He is my Savior, the Savior of our world. He came to earth as a baby, his birth was celebrated and today we have a choice, and my choice is to choose him. To have faith in his plan. Trust him. It will work out. Merry Christmas and may the new year bring all of you peace, happiness, and love!