A Simple Christmas

The image of Jesus, our King who holds all things together in his hand, hanging on the cross is hard to really understand. So too, is the thought of him lying in a manger surrounded by animal stench. This is our King?

It is not just some quaint, cute children’s story to talk about baby Jesus in the manger. It is a powerful image of some of the things God values most: humility, meekness, using the “least of these”, and the upside-down values of His kingdom. The only “kingly” thing marking Jesus’ entrance to the world was worship and adoration and praise.

There wasn’t a whole lot to that first Christmas:

Mary’s quieted heart that treasured things up.

Shepherds’ songs of worship and adoration.

The shepherds’ departure and announcement of God’s faithfulness and goodness.

Over it all hung a simple, beautiful, and honest humility that rested in gratitude towards God.

I wonder if in all of our Christmas celebrating we lose out on that simple beauty. Do we really honor God with our gift giving and eating, our busyness and to-do lists? Do we leave time in our lives for things that the first celebration of our King involved?

Fight hard this year for margin, for time off. What have we added to our celebrations that robs us of those opportunities? What do we cling to for the sake of tradition, family, or keeping others happy?

My encouragement to you this Christmas is to simplify: sing some songs, quietly ponder in your heart, share words of God’s goodness, and rest in gratitude. It was enough for Jesus’ birth.