What Is It Really All About?

What is Christmas really about?

Most of the modern-day world will tell you that it's about the spirit of giving, about being thankful and being cheerful, about kindness and goodwill. While all of that is true, it really all comes down to Jesus - just like every other aspect of our lives.

I tend to forget this quite a bit. I get caught up in the holiday spirit of Christmas music, winter coats, Santa Claus, and gift giving. All of that is just fine, but we have to make sure that Jesus is our priority this season. Without Jesus, there would be no Christmas.

Even the dictionary says that Christmas is "the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth," so shouldn't we, as Christians, be the ones who set this example?

My family has 20+ nativities set up all over our house. The picture above is one of my favorites. It just seems so humble compared to all the other fancy, elaborate ones - just like Jesus.

And did you ever think about how incredibly faithful and brave Mary and Joseph had to be? Mary was only 13 or 14 when the angel came to her. I find it insanely awesome that she trusted God through her family not believing her, and her fiancé threatening to reject her. That is one amazing young woman. And Joseph, he led his wife, pregnant with a child that he knew to be the Son of God only by faith, across 100 miles of desert and rocky terrain. All I can say is, "Wow."

A movie I suggest watching is The Nativity Story. Probably not great for younger kids, it gives whole new depth to the old story that everyone's heard. You walk through the journey with Mary. One thing I love about it too, is that the people are portrayed as Middle Eastern (probably Pakistani or Israeli descent). That is the way they really looked. They were not Caucasian. I watched it earlier today and was just blown away by the amazing way that God works and his people showed faith to Him. It came out in 2006. It should be at your local Blockbuster. Please do take the time to watch it with your family, it will change your perspective on Christmas.

Because we all need a wake-up call. It's not about the "holiday spirit." It's about Jesus - it's always been about Jesus.