Noel Never Hurt Anyone

“Wow, that’s really clever.  Seriously smart.”  I stopped suddenly to admire a display and my youngest was almost jerked off her feet.  I looked over in time to see her attempting to relocate her shoulder.  “Ow! What is clever?  That?  What is it? It’s weird!”  She too, paused and moved out of the way of the passengers making their way to the cafeteria.  “This is clever, this….this….seasonal display.”  I waved my hand at it in an attempt to pull words out of the air. I’m not exactly sure I would call it that.  It is pretty, but it isn’t anything.” She retorted.  “Exactly!” I shouted.  “That’s why it is so smart!  It says celebration but wipes the entire Christ out of Christmas.  Look at it!  There is no star, no sheep, no shepherd, nothing spiritual to muddy the waters or offend anyone.  It’s a masterpiece!”  I was impressed and enthusiastic.  My children were uninspired and hungry.  “Mum, it’s great really but can we go get dinner now?  We are super hungry.”  My oldest grabbed my free hand and tugged me down the deck.  “Coming.” I grumped, cross at being dragged away.  “But we are going to talk about that “seasonal piece of festivus” later!  It’s brilliant.”

My country can do politically correct like no one else.  Seeing the anti-Christmas-tree-dress-non-decoration proved it.  I have been thinking about that blasted tree dress since I saw it in mid-December. Thinking about why we want to keep the celebration but not the person behind it, thinking about what Christmas would be like without Jesus and thinking about how glad I am that I celebrate the birth of the Messiah each December.  Without Jesus at the center of the holiday, I'm not sure I would live through the celebration.

I have had a few lengthy phone calls with family and friends since the 24^th of December.  They have included words phrases such as: basement flooding, 2 inches across the whole room, she is vomiting but has no fever, unexpected drive that will take 6 hours, (and the ever popular), how do I know when it’s done?  Friends, might I remind you holidays are not for cowards.  They are forged out of the blood, sweat and tears of family and friends.  They are birthed painfully and anyone who tells you otherwise got to the punch bowl before you.

So dear heart, let me take a moment, now that you have made it through the 25^th, to wish you joy this coming year. I pray that it brings you blessing.  May the peace Jesus offers flood your mind as you ring in 2016.  May you know the forgiveness, restoration and future hope He alone can provide.

I am praying for you this week,

xoxKaren

PS.  Blue and black people, blue and black.