I wrote this poem this past March, and oh how it struck me as I read it again. Why is it every year at Christmas it ends up being Santa vs. Jesus?
My daughter went to the Casting Crowns and for King and County concert this past weekend with a dear friend of mine. When she came home, she told me she had heard something she never thought of before. At the concert, the singer said when Jesus was born, there was no room at the Inn. During every Christmas season since, there is still no room for Jesus. Year after year we forget to invite Jesus to His own birthday party. My daughter said to me, “Mom, I never thought of it like that before. That is so true, and it makes me really sad.”
If we could ask Jesus what He wants for His birthday, do you think His answer would be, “Please go into debt and spend a lot of money on your children, family, and friends and buy presents that no one will remember receiving by the following Christmas. Also, make sure you are a frazzled mess while you shop, wrap, and prepare in honor of a fictitious man who you pretend is the mascot of Christmas but really you are the one supplying the goods. Please let the days melt into seconds and forget to reflect on Me because you are too busy catering to the world”?
I think we can agree that is not what He would want for His birthday. He wants you. Jesus wants every part of you-the good, the bad, and the ugly. He wants you to lift up your face to Him and see Him in all of His glory because He wants you for Christmas.
Will you invite Him to His birthday celebration this year?
That is so right today, we ‘pencil’ Him in! We don’t make room for Him as we should –
I wish that we could go back in time and make a new tradition-one that honors Him.