Pastor's Corner
December, 2003
A lady had a circle of friends for whom she really wanted to buy Christmas presents. Time slipped away and she was so busy at work that she just wasn’t able to get to the store to purchase gifts. As time was running out and only a few days before Christmas, she decided to forfeit the gift idea and just send everybody a Christmas card. She went to a stationary store and picked out a box of fifty cards. She was in such a hurry that she didn’t take the time to read it, except that she liked the design—gold trim with beautiful floral arrangement. That was perfect. So she signed all of them, “With all my love.” As New Year was coming, she finally had time to slow down. She picked up the two or three remaining Christmas cards and was shocked to read the message inside. It said, in a little rhyme, “This Christmas card is just to say, a little gift is on its way.”
Oh well, too late now! I hope you won’t get caught in a similar situation like hers. Christmas does seem to create stress for many. There is so much to do before the year ends: the projects at work, finishing up our New Year’s Resolutions we made in the beginning of the year, and of course, the gifts to be purchased and sent away. When economy isn’t favorable, it adds more stress. Many go through the commotion every year. Little wonder people are “numb” to the Christmas Season.
For over two thousand years now, Christians celebrate Christmas for a particular reason—the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a celebration, not so much that God came visiting the world. Through the first Christmas, humankind got a chance to know God in a personal way and to accept His free gift of Salvation. But throughout these two thousand years, things have changed drastically. We are living in an increasingly “paganistic” world. Many people find themselves in the predicament similar to the woman in the story, who missed the message in the card. I’m afraid more and more people will miss the important message of Christmas.
But it doesn’t have to be. It is your choice to how you want to celebrate Christmas. I’m not against gifts exchange or anything like that. On the contrary, I think it is a good idea to practice generosity during the Christmas Season because God is generous to us by giving His own Son. But I do think we need to spend some time remembering God’s love and thanking Him for His willingness to identify with us.
Before I sign off, I wish all of you to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! If you haven’t come to know Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior, I pray that you’ll come to church to learn about Him. If you’re a Christian, I pray that this Christmas will bring you closer to God.
Pastor Larry
