Merry ______mas!

In January, I purchased a nativity set made from dried banana leaves in Kenya. I was eager to set it out this Christmas, and as I opened the banana leaf box and began placing the shepherds along with Mary and Joseph, I was disheartened to discover there was no baby Jesus.

After several minutes of frustration, I realized this was actually a picture of Christmas in the U.S. How often do we get so focused on gift-giving, performances, and family gatherings that we actually forget who we are celebrating? Imagine going to a child’s birthday party and focusing on all the food, finding the perfect gift and looking forward to the entertainment (perhaps a magician or a clown) only to leave without ever talking to the birthday child.

Sadly many of us do this annually when it comes to Christmas. Last year our church started hosting “A Walk through Bethlehem.” I love this event because it helps me to remember the true reason for Christmas. Reeanacting the birth of Jesus and remembering the prophecies surrounding his birth has given me a new passion for Christmas. I want this season, really every day, to be all about Jesus.

May we not be like my nativity and forget Jesus. For those who were wondering, I decided to display the nativity anyway as a reminder not to forget the true meaning of Christmas.

Merry CHRISTmas!