Reason for the Season

 By: Grace Metzger

For a child will be born for us,
 a son will be given to us.
Isaiah 9:6

Christmas isn’t the easiest Holiday for me, and a lot of people might share this feeling. Dealing with this isn’t fun as the world doesn’t always agree with my sentiment about the Holiday. Having to hear Christmas music in every store, see Christmas decorations everywhere, and hear “Merry Christmas” every few minutes do not help these feelings. I’ve struggled with this for four years. Last year I decided that I was done doing this and tried my best to get in the Christmas spirit. I forced myself to listen to Christmas music, bought decorations, and did with a smile on my face, despite having to force myself to smile through it. But that didn’t help. With Christmas coming up this year I was starting to get nervous, if last year’s efforts didn’t work, then what would?

 

So I decided to take a different approach this year. Last year I was focusing on the world’s view of Christmas. I did the decorations, made the cookies, and sang the Christmas songs. But this isn’t Christmas, this isn’t what the Holiday was about.

So instead of looking at the glist and glam that the world is currently showing off, I redirected my attention to the real reason for the Holiday: Jesus’ birth. I didn’t realize how distracted I have become during this season. It was so easy to focus on the version that the world celebrates that I stopped celebrating the right version of it.

She will give birth to a son and you are
to name Him Jesus, because He will
 save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21

This is why we celebrate Christmas. Not because of Santa Claus. But because on this day Mary and Joseph found their way to a lonely, small barn and in that barn they gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. A baby boy that saved His people from their sins.

If you’re like young me then you’ve probably heard the phrase, “reason for the season.” And if you are really like me, you probably rolled your eyes at this phrase and called it “corny.” Young me was careless, flippant even, which is why I highly recommend not being like young Grace. Now, I love that phrase. I have been repeating it constantly in my head, whenever the Holiday starts becoming too much, I say this and remind myself why I am celebrating.

Even if you don’t hate Christmas like me, you probably have gotten distracted by the world’s Christmas. I challenge you that whenever you start catching yourself forgetting why we are doing this, say to yourself, “He is the reason for the season.” Trust me once you start shifting your focus to God on Christmas the Holiday instantly gets 100% better.

 

Discussion Questions:

1.) Do you find Christmas hard?

2.) How do you honor God during Christmas?