Christmas -- As We See It

CHRISTMAS – AS WE SEE IT A sparkling white crest of new fallen snow A bakery window laden with freshly baked pastries Children – sledding down a hillside or skating on a frozen pond Sleigh bells ringing on a horses harness as the sleigh swishes by Cardinals, waxwings, and sparrows lingering on the bird feeder for one last seed Shoppers, braving the cold and hurrying from one store to the next searching for that “perfect” gift Postal workers delivering mounds of Christmas cards to countless friends and relatives Traffic at a standstill, waiting for the light to change Street lamps blazing with twinkling lights and banners proclaiming MERRY CHRISTMAS Church marquees advertising their upcoming Christmas Cantata Soup kitchens serving a multitude of needy and homeless people Bell ringers from the Salvation Army as they solicit donations People being nice to one another for at least this season This, and much more is Christmas – as we see it But what of the real reason for Christmas A baby lying a manger awaiting the time when He will declare His Kingship Shepherds, as they hurry to Bethlehem to “see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us” Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus surrounded by animals – animals which are also a part of Christmas Behold, the Star of Bethlehem shining bright as it did thousands of years ago Yes, we see Christmas in various ways, but let us not miss Christ – the real reason for Christmas Let us embrace Him – not just as a Baby born of a virgin But as Lord and Savior of our life – King of Kings and Lord of Lords Curtis Moorman 9 December 2010