Welcome back, lovely people!
I hope you're all enjoying the party and all the epic posts I've been seeing floating around. I've been making rounds through the blogging realm, but haven't checked in everywhere yet. Still, lots of good things to read and see and do!
A bit of a different post today—some thoughts and ramblings on what the heart of Christmas truly is. Hopefully it makes sense—given the
|| Heart of Christmas
I've been giving quite a bit of thought recently to all that Christmas is and all it isn't.I know the technical answer—it's a national holiday, December 25th. According to Google, it's the most common holiday, most popular holiday, most loved holiday, and second most celebrated holiday. (Second to New Years Eve? Weird.)
I know the Sunday school answer—it's the day we celebrate Christ coming to earth, as Mary's virgin-born son. We read Luke 2 and Matthew 1. We sing O Holy Night and Joy to the World.
I know the culturally-accepted answer—it's a season to celebrate all that's good in the world. To spend a lot of money and probably go into debt. To exchange gifts and drink eggnog (eww) and go to parties and feel happy.
But what about when that's not enough? When that leaves us feeling empty and meaningless?
Down deep, at the core, at the heart of it all—what is Christmas?
The heart of Christmas isn't Santa Claus. It isn't colored lights or blow-up yard displays or shopping sprees. It isn't baking cookies and buying gifts or blog parties. It isn't Salvation Army bell-ringers or shouting merry Christmas to literally anyone.
It isn't even loving your neighbor, singing songs about hope and good cheer, or Christmas plays and church services.
The heart of Christmas is SO much more than any of this.
Christmas songs and candlelight services and giving gifts and reading the Christmas story and loving on those around you are all important, wonderful parts of Christmas. But even still, if that's all our Christmas is, it'll be just another empty day.
A body without a heart is dead. A celebration without a heart is dead, too.
Let's not forget the heart of Christmas. Instead, let's include Him first and foremost. Let's place Him where He belongs and keep him there. Because, if He is kept where he belongs, at the heart of all that Christmas truly is and ever will be, everything else will fall into place. The church services and Christmas performances will be successful. The presents will all get bought and wrapped and given. Beautiful, genuine, unbridled joy will fill your heart. Friends and family, believing or not, will feel the love of Christmas while in your presence.
The heart of Christmas is light and love.
The heart of Christmas is the Baby.
The heart of Christmas is the cross.
The heart of Christmas is salvation and grace and forgiveness and hope and freedom.
The heart of Christmas is Jesus.
|| 12 Days of Christmas
Read Another Page — Book #19: The Candymaker’s Gift
RebekahAshleigh — Christmas Movie Recommendations
Old-Fashioned Book Love — Book Review: “Christmas Quilts” by Rebekah A. Morris
Kaitlyn Krispense, Author — Book Review: Bespoke by Amanda Dykes
Rebekah's Reading Room — The Candy Cane Story
For me the heart of Christmas is unconditional, undeserved Love and Sacrifice. That's what always comes to mind when I think of that all-knowing Babe in the manger.
ReplyDeleteI don't like eggnog either, though I tried some vanilla flavored one time that was pretty good. Otherwise, I don't understand why people love edible nail-polish remover so much...
Yes, yes, yes. <33
DeleteBleehhhh I can't take it. It's just so thicckkkk. xD Bahahaha, I LOVE that!!
Yes, yes, YES! :D Jesus is truly the reason for the season. <3
ReplyDeleteamen, dear! <3
DeleteAhh, so true! This post is spot on, and it doesn’t even have to apply to Christmas... but every day. Jesus should be the heart of our every days. <33
ReplyDeleteHehe, I’m with you and Ryana! Eggnog is awfully bad! *scrunches nose and sticks out tongue* XP
absolutely, my dear! Jesus is the heart of all <33
Delete*shudders* nope, nope, not my thing.
Amen! Hallelujah!
ReplyDelete<33 merry Christmas!
DeleteI love this! <3
ReplyDeletethank you, Mikayla! <3
DeleteI love this!! And...unpopular opinion, I also LOVE eggnog... XD
ReplyDeletereally? store-bought or homemade? My dad and brother like eggnog, but I don't even like the smell of it. xP
DeleteYES, I love how you explained this! Jesus really IS the reason for the Season. <3
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes unfortunately we just kind of throw the thought around about that Christmas is all about Jesus, and just keep it at that -- a thought. We need to not just think about it, but truly apply the true HEART of the season -- Jesus -- to how we celebrate the holiday, and how we live out our faith!
Awesome post! :)
thank you, dear! <3
Deleteyes, yes, so well said! we say we believe it without really put it into action.