I know Christmas is passed
and a brand new year has begun, but I’m still trying to resolve the seasons and
celebrations in my mind. Every year that rolls another Christmas or Easter
around, has me remembering years past, and wondering if we are missing
something.
As a child, I remember
fondly Christmases when everything was magical and I truly believed that
reindeer could fly, snowmen come to life, and waited in anticipation for
Christmas morning. I was indeed snuggled all safe in my bed, while visions of
sugarplums danced in my head. I had wonderful Christian parents who, though
they “fed my imagination” at times, also gave me a firm grasp on truth and
where to go to find it.
We all make mistakes with
our children, and we were no different. Looking back there are many things I
would have done differently. One thing I’m thankful for is the different
cultural perspective on holidays they received from living overseas.
Unfortunately, we brought a lot of cultural baggage with us, which I lovingly
refer to as tradition.
When we moved to Romania, I
found it interesting how different holidays (holy days) were celebrated. Easter
was the most significant of the year and was celebrated all week long…….. in
church. There was no bunny and no egg hunt, the emphasis was completely and
solely on Christ and the fact that He was risen from the dead, alive forever
more.
On the 16th of
December, all “good” children cleaned their boots and had them neatly displayed
outside the door so that St. Nicholas could come and fill them with nice
things. This was not to be confused with Christmas, which was celebrated the 24th
and 25th of December…….. in church. The emphasis was on the fact that
God became man and dwealt among us. At night during the week of Christmas we
always had carolers and we, ourselves, went caroling, singing (like the angels)
and declaring the coming of the newborn king. There was something magical in
that, too. Opening up a window onto the street. The light from the moon falling
on the group of bundled up singers. Snow falling softly and voices rising in
praise to our God. Afterward we would invite them in for something warm to
drink and whatever goodies we had baked. It’s one of the things I remember most
fondly and miss the most about the country of Romania.
I don’t begrudge a child
their years of wonder, or their imagination and pretending. I just don’t think
we realize, as Christian people, what WE have done with the holidays that were
purposed for celebrating our Lord. I hear a lot of moaning about the holidays
being too commercialized and stressful. I hear a lot of talk about losing the
ability to say Merry Christmas. These are just symptoms of a much bigger
problem. I don’t mean to be too condemning, because I know how easy it is to
let the world sidetrack us and steal our joy. I know there are many Christian people who work hard to keep
the focus on Christ in Christmas. The truth is, Easter and Christmas in
America, have Christ playing back seat to a bunny with colored eggs and a fat
man in a red suit. We are indeed missing something. We have lost our joy.
Traded it in actually, just as Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of soup. I
suppose what I’m saying is that traditions are beautiful things. We definitely
want to pass things down from one generation to another. We just need to make
sure that what we are preserving is true, genuine, and God honoring.
