I was thinking about the Christmas season and how it is a lot of people's favorite time of year, and I wonder why that is? I have to say for me, and I think many of us, at least a portion of the reason we love it is the ideas we are told to believe about the Christmas season. Undoubtedly we will watch many Christmas movies and shows that we have grown up watching all of or lives and be filled with affection for Rudolph, Charlie Brown, the Grinch, and the Christmas Spirit. Nothing wrong with that at all, but is Christmas really about a special spirit that comes upon people this time of year?
The obvious answer is no. However all too often I am more excited about presents, holiday movies, and time with family, more than I am for remembering the incarnation of Jesus. This season is a time of advent, the arrival of a notable person, in this case Jesus Christ. It is a time for us as Christians to remember the longing for the messiah, and for us to long for his return. We must celebrate his coming the first time to live and die and rise again on our behalf. Jesus promised us that He would return, and we are called to watch and wait for Him to come back; this time of year is a special time for us to focus our attention to the sky longing for Jesus to return and make all things new, and all things right.
I was watching an episode of Full House, and one of the characters explained what Christmas was about using terms like, a special feeling, doing good to others, and forgetting about ourselves. This may be what Christmas is about for the world, but for Christians is so much more, so much better. There is certainly nothing wrong with doing good to others and we should be doing so, but that is not relegated to Christmas time. We must take full advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the coming of our messiah, and to long, to watch and wait for His return.
Now I would be remiss if I did not mention that one of my favorite things about the Christmas season is singing Christmas carols. It is unfortunate that these songs only get sung one month out of the year, but it is what it is. I thought I would include a list of my favorite Christmas carols for your benefit, let me know what you think.
Joy to the World - Incidentally this was not even written as Christmas song, but it's good.
Angels we Have Heard on High
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
The First Noel
O Come All Ye Faithful - This is my mom's favorite, and I love the very first line, "joyful and triumphant."
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - The whole text to this song is so good.
He is Born
Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming
Hark the Herald Angel's Sing
O Holy Night - Go listen to David Phelps sing this song, it is unreal.
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