It Christmas time! Joy is in the air, Christmas trees are up, Christmas music is on the radio and as the song says “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”. I love it. I’m a big fan of Christmas and not just because I’m a teacher and we get a couple of weeks off. The older I get the more I love this time of year. I have to admit that as a child I sometimes wasn’t very fond of the holiday. I think it’s because I was more about receiving than giving. It’s weird but now that I give a lot more than I receive I truly enjoy this time of year much more but that’s not what I wanted to write about today.
First Christmas without Dad
As the heading says this is my first Christmas without Dad. So there is a bit of a bitter sweet thing going on in my heart and head. Since Mom went home a few years back and last spring Dad followed her this is the first year since I was born that I won’t be spending part of Christmas day with one or both of my parents. Needless to say that makes me a little sad. I know that for many people the holidays bring more sadness than joy. I imagine that is probably because of family relationships or a lack there of. My heart goes out to those people and I pray that Emanuel will visit them this Christmas and fill their hearts with joy and peace. I said that it’s a little bit bitter sweet because I’m happy for Dad and that’s a sweet thought.
First Christmas in Heaven
I think this Christmas I’m going to get a lot of joy thinking about Dad in heaven. This year he gets to celebrate Jesus’ birthday in person with Him. We don’t know exactly what day is Jesus’ birthday, but I feel with all the Christmas spirit that’s going on here on earth there is some kind of celebration going on in heaven. It’s fun to think of Mom and Dad singing Happy Birthday to our Savior. I hope they let Mom play the piano for it or maybe even give her a microphone. (Unless he has a different voice up there Dad probably shouldn’t have one.) I can only imagine (see what I did there) what that birthday celebration would look like but it sure is fun to think about. I’m so thankful that there is a prevailing sweetness to the thought of Dad and Mom not being here with me this year. I know it’s because of another Christmas that happened over 2000 years ago.
First Christmas on Earth
The reason I can have peace and even joy about my parents not being here is because Jesus, the Son of God, left heaven and came to our world as a baby on that cold winter night. I have a feeling that the angels were experiencing a bit of bitter sweetness as they sang that night. After all, it was the first time that the Prince of Heaven was not going to be in Heaven. I’ve heard Him called the Darling of Heaven and I’m sure His presence was sorely missed.
Even though He would be missed they knew He’d be back and He’d be bringing friends with Him.
One of those friends is Dad. If it wasn’t for Jesus leaving His home and coming to ours none of us would be able to join in that celebration there. We wouldn’t be able to be in God’s presence except for the righteousness we have through Jesus’ sacrifice for us. It all started for us in that stable, that lowly stable nowhere near suitable for the King of the Universe and yet He endured it for us.
He came to our world and put on our flesh for one purpose – to die on a cross and insure that we could one day be with Him in paradise forever.
I know I keep coming back to Jesus and His death on a cross in a lot of my blogs. I just can’t help it. It needs to be shouted from the mountain tops. What does the cross have to do with Christmas? Everything. It’s why He came. He was born to die. To die for you and for me and for my Dad. So Dad, tell Him thanks for me. Grab that microphone and shout Happy Birthday Jesus! We love you!
Merry Christmas!
David
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