Have we forgotten the real Reason?

I hope you all are doing well on this Monday night. I've been thinking quite a bit this afternoon about Christmas and Jesus. While I love fall and all that it brings (I promise this is going somewhere haha), I really LOVE Christmas. You know that saying "they're like a kid at Christmas"? That is every bit my personality. I love the brightly colored lights, the smell of pine trees, buying and wrapping gifts, giving to others, sappy, romantic Christmas movies, hot cocoa, gingerbread and peppermint mocha lattes, candy canes, Santa Claus, festive songs on the radio, candlelit Christmas eve services, etc.

But in the midst of all that this seemingly magical season offers, I often forget about the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas. The story is one of my favorites: A chilly night, a young couple, a dusty stable, a baby born, shepherds, a star, angelic voices...and while the story is beautiful and true, the reason for this precious baby's entrance into the world is not so heartwarming. Knowing that this little Boy came into the world in order to one day die a wretched, humiliating death to save the world because of His unending love for us, is in fact heart wrenching. But, we also know that the story does not end there; we know that after three days, our Savior rose from the dead, defeating death and the grave. So, I think part of the reason we may "forget" about Jesus during this season is not because the story of His birth is not a wonder and not every bit lovely, but because we know what comes after that part of the story. We do not want to face the ugly part of Jesus' life, the part that had to happen because of our sin. But my friends, here's what we can know: the Christmas story is beautiful because of the reason Jesus came. It is beautiful because despite the horrific death Christ suffered, He did it because He loves us so and He did rise again and He will come again. The story of Jesus does have an ugly part but it doesn't end that way. And our stories don't end that way. We have been saved by the One True King, through admittance, belief, and confession. We are heirs to the King of the universe and that is something to celebrate; something to shout from the rooftops. So, this Christmas, let us remember Jesus in every part of this season and the year. Because when we do, the hope and joy that fill us during Christmas will exist throughout the next 365 days and beyond.

Merry Christmas,

Mariah xoxo