How would Jesus want us to celebrate His birthday this Christmas?
How about pulling our hair out because our calendar is too full?
Agonizing over finding the perfect gifts?
Maxing out the credit cards buying them?
Living in a state of dread awaiting the January bill?
Feeling overwhelmed trying to make the best meal?
Decorating the house perfectly?
Arguing with each other over the children and extended family?
Probably not.
So, how would Jesus like us to celebrate His birthday?
My guess is He would want us to love one another as we’re told to do so many times throughout scripture. How we do that is probably a little different for everyone.
For some of us, it could be a random act of kindness for someone who seems lost or sad.
Perhaps it would include removing a few things from our ‘to do’ list so we could have more quality time with our family and friends.
Maybe it’s through better boundaries-like purchasing less gifts for the children and reducing the strife they would be exposed to by arguing over money in January.
It could be serving meals to the homeless or buying a gift for a needy child.
Maybe love is inviting a neighbor to church to learn about the real meaning of Christmas, which is the fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah 9:6:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given….and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
For many of us, maybe love would be to simply remember Him this Christmas.
