Here it comes—ready or not. Christmas, that is. Does it seem possible that it’s that time of the year again, already? Not that we have not seen Christmas decorations in front of homes here and there, and Christmas merchandise jam-packed onto shelves and in any available space in the retail stores. Christmas 2025 will soon be in the books and we will be facing a brand-new year, Lord willing.
Not too many Christmas seasons ago, Ellen and I were in a local toy store (must have been when some of our grandchildren were still “kids”). You would have thought it was “Black Friday!” Christmas occupied every square inch of the store, a store stocked to the hilt with all sorts of goodies for children.
Well, as we were checking out, a man came up behind us in the checkout line with a cart full of toys. He must have had six or so nice toy trucks, heavy-duty type earth-moving machines, plus lots of other things. His cart was piled high. He laughed and said that he and his wife had only come in to get one thing. She was still somewhere in the store finishing up. We struck up a conversation and learned that he was 78 and had a painting business that all the family worked in—as well as a produce business that he started to help his grandchildren pay for college. We talked about how much of the joy of Christmas was in seeing children delight with toys and gifts. He then said that he had lost a fifty-some year-old son in the past year to cancer, and that Christmas would be difficult for them. We discussed where he attended church (Methodist) and some others things. Then his wife came and led him away to look at something else she had found. He left his place in line willingly and with a big smile on his face.
Well, I left that brief meeting with positive thoughts about what we were doing there in that crowded store on a beautiful, late-fall afternoon. There had been some jarring economic times, and many were hurting financially. But lots of people were getting out early, trying to take advantage of some “good deals” and making sure that, though times were tough, there would be some little ones whose eyes would still light up on Christmas morning, after Luke’s gospel chapter 2 had been read and the Christmas gifts were opened.
The older gentleman, still smarting from the loss of his son to cancer—but with a broad smile on his face as he pushed his overflowing cart through the checkout line—ministered to my heart that Saturday afternoon. Yes, the crowds were almost suffocating, the economy was in the tank, the world was filled with nations at war, and the Senate was about to vote on a 2,000 page healthcare bill that no one could possibly understand. But here was a dear old grandfather out, even before “Black Friday,” getting deals, buying toys for his great-grandchildren, and chuckling with apparent pleasure all the while because, though saddened by his deep loss, there were still some little ones he could bring some joy to once again on Christmas Day. I left that store that day inspired.
Ellen is always that kind of parent and grandparent, too. She plans, she prepares, she prays, and she prioritizes Christmas. She spent many a Christmas without a lot of special memories. Times were hard for her parents, and Christmas was just not a big deal, apart from a special church service and a bag of candy for the children. In my teen years, my mother became convicted over the commercialization of modern Christmases, and our family stopped celebrating the day cold turkey, so to speak. When we married, though, Ellen slowly revived a true, Christ-honoring keeping of Christmas; and, through the years, she has made it a very special day for all, in part by picking just the right gift for each person. I am thankful for this dimension of the holiday that Ellen has recovered for our family. Christmas means loving, family, giving, sharing, blessing—all because of the unspeakable gift and the God-giving that we are the recipients of, by grace, through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
So, here it comes—ready or not. And we will, God willing, be ready. We will put up some simple decorations. And, on Christmas morning, we will gather around Luke 2 and read the blessed story once again of His humble coming to be born amongst us. And, we will open gifts and share laughter and think about our grandson David, now in Heaven. And, in spite of the wars, the economy, the political chaos, and the fears of an uncertain future here, if this Christmas is like all those of recent years in our house, we’ll go to bed one week before the first day of the New Year with peace ruling in our hearts and laughter ringing in our heads for the joy, love, cheer, and sheer enchantment of another Christmas Day. We wish the same for all of you, our dear readers.
“A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:32—The prophet Simeon holding the baby Jesus in the Temple)
YOU and GOD 