“Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday,” my son blurted out. We were in the car on our way to share the annual meal with his grandparents. He quickly followed up his statement with, “The Fourth of July is my favorite.” This was no surprise to me, coming from a young man who has donned some form of an Uncle Sam costume or unique combination of red, white, and blue attire every year while parading around the house for the occasion. There has never been a doubt that Isaiah is a patriot who honors his country.
But as our discussion about holidays continued, his words had something more to teach me regarding honoring life and the Life-Giver.
“I love Thanksgiving too, but I have to say I do love Christmas,” I said.
Isaiah replied that he likes Christmas, but added, “it’s the lead up to Christmas that I love most, not that actual day.” He went on to explain how much he enjoys and looks forward to the weeks before Christmas when we decorate the house, visit the holiday tree festival, and share in Cousin’s Cookie Day with family. The celebration things. The together things. “When we get to Christmas Day all those things are over, and it’s kind of a letdown.”
As we continued talking about Christmas, my motherly voice instinctually chimed in with all the “Jesus is the reason for the season” cliches, which I know Isaiah already knows. But at the same time I understood his heart, and I related to his desire for the Christmas pre-show. I shared with him that I too experience a sort of disappointed sadness every year on Christmas day, and I joy in days before.
In thinking about this conversation over the past weeks, the Lord impressed upon my heart about the importance of those “lead up” days. Not just in relation to Christmas, but to the greater scope of our lives. The truth is that we are living the lead up days to Christ’s return right now, as we have been since the day of our own birth. While we wait expectantly for the day that our Father welcomes us to our forever home, we were not created to simply bide our time. God’s purpose for you and I is so much greater than that.
This year has been a source of challenge and discouragement for many people around the world, and understandably so. But if we are waiting for things to get better, more comfortable, or more like what we’re used to, we’ve already missed the mark. These lead up days were meant for living, loving, encouraging, serving, and most of all rejoicing in the One who holds our every day. These are the days that matter, they are what we were made for. As my aunt used to say, we shouldn’t be so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good.
As you live these next days in the countdown to Christmas, perhaps missing the people and traditions that you won’t get to share in this year, allow the Lord to move you in new ways to shine His light. Let your disappointment become compassion, and your longing, joy. Honor Christmas by fully living the lead up days that Jesus’s birth has gifted you.
Carrie Joy(ful) 