Anyone who has been here in OKC during the month of December probably knows that it brings a few distinct changes. For one, the weather starts to get colder and wetter, not typically snowy, just rainy and occasionally icy. The wind is the one weather constant year round since it's the one thing that never EVER stops here. During winter it merely picks up speed and makes people who thought they knew what cold was rethink the very definition of "chilled to the bone." There's something about winter here that makes 32 degrees feel so much colder than other places.
In addition to the weather changes you feel, other changes occur for you to hear. Magic 104.1 starts to play Christmas music beginning Thanksgiving (or maybe the day after) and continuing non-stop to New Years Day. And you know it's not truly the Christmas season here until you start to hear the B.C. Clark's jingle. (You know the one that gets stuck in your head and somehow becomes part of the very fabric of the Christmas season in Oklahoma... "Jewelry is the gift to give, 'cause it's the gift that lives and lives. So give the gift you know can't fail, from B.C. Clark's anniversary sale. Most sales are after Christmas, but Clark's is just before. Most everything is marked way down with savings you can't ignore at Oklahoma's oldest jeweler, since 1892. So give the gift you know can't fail, from B.C. Clark's anniversary sale.")
The change in music plays a role in the changing moods of the people around you. Some become stressed and irritable. Others seem to be just bursting with the Christmas spirit and scamper around sharing their glee like little elves who run to and fro tossing the glitter of Christmas cheer on everyone they meet. And, if you work anywhere like I do, work suddenly involves random food snacks showing up in the break room, decorating contests, vacation days, white elephant gift exchanges, Christmas cards, and possibly even little envelopes containing Christmas bonuses.
But is this what Christmas is all about? If you listen to the messages in song on the radio you might glean that Christmas is about Santa; getting presents, a boyfriend, hippos, or front teeth; family and love; Santa; hearts given away last Christmas, loneliness, being homesick, and being blue; snow or how cold it is outside; sleigh rides; silver bells; Santa; reindeer running over Grandma; what 12 things your true love gave you; Christmas trees, holly, and mistletoe; how a little boy guilt-tripped a stranger into giving him money to get his mom a pair of red shoes; Rudolph; and of course how you'd better be good 'cause (who else?) Santa Claus is coming to town.
Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE the traditional Christmas music, the bright, cheerful decorations, and the old school Christmas movies (like It's a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas). But none of those things are why I celebrate Christmas. The most beautiful and meaningful songs just don't hardly show up on the radio, but rather appear in the old hymn books. They tell the true story of Christmas and of the best gift EVER given - Jesus Christ. Let's not let Santa steal the show! After all, we give gifts to each other in celebration (and imitation) of how God gave us Jesus
It's about how Mary gave her body, her reputation, and even risked trading her upcoming marriage for being stoned, all to have a baby that was impossible for her to have. It's how Joseph gave his reputation, the chance to have his own son be his firstborn and heir, and the chance to start out married life with just him and his new wife. It's how they both endured shame and humiliation that they didn't earn. It's how the very Creator God of the universe humbled Himself to become one of His creation, being born as a helpless, defenseless, average little baby, born in a barn with animals as an unmarried woman's son with a hardworking but poor step-father, to spend 30 years on this Earth without truly being recognized, to endure all the trials of every day ordinary life, to be betrayed by a beloved friend, to be hated by those who should have recognized and worshiped him, to sacrifice Himself in a cruel and painful death, to be raised back to life but be held initially in disbelief by some of His closest followers. All this He endured to save us from our sins that should have condemned us to Hell and an eternity without Him.
When it comes to Christmas you often hear that He is the "reason for the season." But I say He is so much more even than that. He is the reason. Period. Jesus is the very reason for anything, for our very existence. Let's remember that. Hold onto that. I pray that we all remember "the reason" both this Christmas and all year round.
Very well said. You're a good writer :) it's always nice to read articles this time of year to remind us why we celebrate . It's true that without Him we are nothing and we have nothing. He gave us life and we ought always to keep the Lord first in all that we do. It's so easy to get caught up in all the routines we have every day and to forget why we have life to begin with. God bless, Mrs. Brown <3
ReplyDeleteThank you Esther! I am glad you enjoyed it! I agree that it's so easy to get caught up in the hum-drum of every day life or even the fun things that don't really matter a lot but can become so consuming if you let them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to share your thoughts! I appreciate it!
The other day I was pleasantly surprised to hear a traditional, Christ-centered Christmas hymn playing over the loudspeaker (with lyrics!) in my nearby supermarket. That just made my day.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really enjoyable post. I liked how you effectively summed up the changes going on around this time of year. I especially appreciated that 2nd to last paragraph. =) Merry Christmas, Anne!
Anita, That's awesome!! I get excited when I hear one on the radio too. They are simply far too rare.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this one, especially the second to last paragraph. I think sometimes that we don't think about how REAL it was for those living through it, so though I know I could never see it how they did, I do try to catch a glimpse. =)
Anne you are such a beautiful person inside and out. I love reading these little glimpses of your thoughts. It seems to relax me and see things from such a different perspective when things are hectic and relentless in daily endeavors. Keep posting and many people will keep on reading, and perhaps learning a thing or two about how to live with joy and faith. I hope to see you at Christmas but in case I don't get to Anne Merry Christmas to you and Jen!
ReplyDeleteCaro,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reading and commenting! I didn't know that you had been enjoying reading my posts, but I am glad that you have been. Unfortunately Jen and I can't make it to New Mexico this year. We would have loved to have seen you all!
Smiles of course I have been reading your posts they are enlightening to read.You both will be missed this year. As last year we really enjoyed having you here.
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