Christmas Shopping the Jesus Way

Christmas is a little over three weeks away and I have to admit that my thoughts about Christmas have radically changed since I was a child. I still love the lights and the Christmas tree. I still love to hear the story about the baby Jesus. I still hear all the rants about how commercial Christmas has become and yet few of us do anything about it. The expectations are so high and the disappointments can be very low. There seems to be a polarizing of happiness and sadness during Christmas. I loved Christmas as a child. My parents really promoted Santa and they got a kick out of the whole thing. It's so easy as a child. You do nothing but wait with great expectancy and all the while you are totally oblivious to all the effort being exerted to make this one day so special.

Speed is really a big deal for us in America. That's why I feel so uncomfortable whenever I slow down. I think something is wrong or something is left undone if I stop too long. Christmas doesn't seem to let you stop and the speed seems to crank up another notch. It doesn't feel like peace on earth and good will to all men. It feels more like the Kentucky Derby and when the race is over you are waitng for someone to throw a garland over your head and announce you as the winner. It's as if you have run the race but you are still looking for the reward.

If I could change any one thing about Christmas I would only make one correction. I would learn how to stop. I read a good friends blog the other day and he pointed out how Jesus would always stop at whatever he was doing to give you his attention. In other words, what he was doing wasn't as important as you even if you interrupted him. That is a totally selfless existence. What a beautiful way to approach life. If Jesus was doing his Christmas shopping, He would always be available to talk to a frustrated shopper. He would focus on the clerks and the sales people. He would love them and encourage them while they assisted Him. The shopping would just be the activity that connects him with people. If I could stop to love and encourage and enjoy people like Jesus did then I would be right in the true spirit of Christmas. Jesus never seemed to be affected by the lifestyle of the people that he would meet. He just met them where they were and loved them where they were but first thing that He had to do was to stop. That's my prayer. Lord, help me stop and be like you.

For God So Loved.......