Where Are You, Christmas?

Normally about this time, I'm asking this question, but I hadn't thought about it this year until I heard Faith Hill's version while out shopping the other day. Indeed, I've been pretty cheerful about Christmas this year, despite the usual long lines, grumpy shoppers, hellacious traffic, and rude cashiers.

In fact, most of the time I'm looking for reasons to smile, like when fellow customers at the PO rushed to open doors for me before my Whoville-like stack of packages tumbled to the ground.

We stood in line for an hour (those of us fortunate enough to get there at opening, anyway--the rest stood there longer, I'm sure.) After being spurred on by those willing to help, I decided to keep a positive attitude. Each new customer who came in began to complain about the length of the line. In turn, I countered (nonchalantly and unobtrusively) with a positive comment. "So glad it's not raining today; all these packages would be soaked!" Or, "It's nice to be out of the cold." I ended up telling the story of my last line lingering visit to the PO, where a little girl had us all grinning with her unstoppable giggles. The hour passed and I was on my way. If you have to wait in line, you have two choices: miserably or pleasantly.

At times I've forgotten to look for Christmas and had to rein in my thoughts. The other day I was pulling out from a shopping center parking lot and having to wait for a long line of cars streaming by. I finally edged my way up to the road, and the break in cars was too short to pull out. An angry honk behind me had me glaring through slitted eyes in the rearview mirror. A well-coiffed woman was actually pounding on her steering wheel and mouthing words you'd edit out of a family-friendly movie. Normally I'd think, "Um, Einstein, if you want to go home and explain to whomever pays for your car why you've got to have major bodywork done the week before Christmas, that's your call. I have better things to do on my Saturday!" But my newfound resolve to keep my eye on Christmas tugged at me and I breathed in and out...focused on the relaxing Christmas music on the radio instead. Again, I have to wait my turn in traffic--am I going to do it miserably or pleasantly? It's a process we can all practice.

According to dictionary.com, Christmas etymology originated in Old English from Cristes mǣsse, meaning Mass of Christ. Literally, the celebration of the Eucharist of Christ. If Eucharist means thanksgiving, then Christmas means being thankful for Christ, God's son who came to dwell among us.

So, when we're looking for Christmas, we're looking for Christ. Is he here among the throngs of busy shoppers and grumpy drivers? Is He here with the extra financial and family pressures that arise during the holidays? Is He with those who aren't with those they love, for whatever reason?


That question leads me to a stark realization. We who are believers don't need to look for Christmas (thankfulness that Christ came to dwell among us); we are to SHOW it so that others will SEE it. 

(From SearchGod'sword.com)

Ephesians 2:4-10 - [Verse 7 in Original Greek]

4 But God, being rich ^R81 in mercy, because of His ^R82 great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead ^R83 in ^F30 our transgressions, made us alive together with ^F31 Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised ^R84 us up with Him, and seated ^R85 us with Him in the ^R86 heavenly {places} in Christ ^R87 Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches ^R88 of His grace in kindness ^R89 toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by ^R90 grace you have been saved through ^R91 faith; and that ^F32not of yourselves, {it is} the ^R92 gift of God; 9 not ^R93 as a result of works, so that no ^R94 one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created ^R95 in Christ ^R96 Jesus for good ^R97 works, which God prepared ^R98 beforehand so that we would walk ^R99 in them.

The way we wait in line, the way we drive, the way we refrain from using curse words and pepper spray...all of those things can SHOW our gratitude for Jesus' incarnation. I pray that God would continue to work in me, His workmanship, so that others will find Christmas in me.