Four Christmas Journeys - Part 2

There was one place in Miami to be during the holiday rush as a child in the 80’s: Lionel Playworld.

It was indistinguishable (at least I thought) from Toys-R-Us, but all of their ads promised to “Turn that frown upside down.”

Yes, I hungered for MANY toys from that store. As I charged up and down the aisles, my senses were assaulted by two categories of playthings: those I could reasonably hope to acquire, and those that I knew deep inside would never darken my doorway.

I did get over the years, among other things, a rocketry set, several GI Joe’s, a few Transformers, and Sea Monkeys.

The items that I could only dream about included: a Star Wars Return of the Jedi Swing Set (mere words cannot adequately describe this, see the link), a GI Joe Aircraft Carrier (my disappointment at not getting one diminished significantly when I realized that they couldn’t really float), and various remote control aircraft (that I was planning to fly off the aforementioned GI Joe Aircraft Carrier … sigh).

Despite being teased every holiday season, I still somehow managed to find joy despite the fact that I knew I wouldn’t get all these toys.

Or rather, joy would find ME.

Joy would find me as I sang carols with my brother and sister in the back seat of our station wagon as we checked out our neighbors’ holiday lights.

Joy would find me as I shivered whenever a cool breeze brushed my face.

Joy would find me as I ate roast pork and all the fixings during Noche Buena with family.

And Joy would find me as I watched holiday specials.

As has become our custom, Kathy and I watched “a Charlie Brown Christmas” a few nights ago after decorating our Christmas tree. This is one Christmas special that I look forward to every year. I always seem to catch something new even though I’ve watched it dozens of times.

Charlie Brown is fed up with the commercialization of Christmas and seeks to find out what it really is about. Everywhere he turns, he only becomes more and more disillusioned, culminating with being barraged by insults over his choice of a Christmas tree.

We all feel like Charlie Brown some days, don’t we?

Enter Linus Van Pelt, who calls for a spotlight and shares what the true meaning of Christmas is:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

With the arrival of the Savior comes joy. Even though we are bombarded with messages about what we don’t have, we can have joy because of what we DO have. Christmas is a yearly reminder that a Saviour has been born to us. One who traded the glory of heaven for a dirty manger. One who willingly suffered the human condition. One who knows firsthand what our pain feels like. One who died and was raised again so we might not have to suffer the consequences of our sins.

One who knows our wants, and graciously supplies all our needs.

What is on your Christmas list this year? Where has God’s joy found you lately?

May God’s Hope and Peace fill you, and may His JOY find you this season.

Joy is a gift that can be shared!


Related Verses
Luke 2:8-20
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

1 Peter 1:3-12
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.