Walk Of Life – Day 24, December – Thoughts About Christmas
Essence Of Christmas
Christmas is celebrated in all parts of the world by people of all religion in good spirits. When you ask them about the celebration, they talk about decorated christmas tree, baking cakes, ginger cookies and a red suited man named Santa clause riding on a reindeer who climbs down the chiminies and leaves gifts for the children. Unfortunately, the true meaning of Christmas is lost in these materialistic way of celebration.
The essence of Christmas is about celebrating the birth of the Saviour, Lord Jesus who was born into this world to save us. Let me share a small story for a better understanding.
One afternoon a little girl stood outside Pete Richardson’s antique shop studying the treasures in the window. Then she went in and asked to see a string of blue beads. When Pete set them on the counter, she said: ‘They’re perfect. Will you gift wrap them, please? They’re for my sister. She takes care of me. This will be our first Christmas since Mum died, and I’ve been looking for the perfect present.’ ‘How much do you have?’ asked Pete cautiously. Pouring a stack of coins on the counter, she said, ‘I emptied my bank.’ Pete picked up the necklace, the price tag visible to him and not her. ‘What’s your name?’ he asked, walking into the back room. ‘Jean Grace,’ she replied. Pete returned with a beautifully wrapped package, and the little girl thanked him and left. On Christmas Eve when the last customer had left and he was locking up, a young woman rushed into the store and handed him a familiar package. ‘Do you remember who you sold this to?’ she asked. ‘A girl called Jean bought them for her big sister,’ he replied. ‘How much are they worth?’ she inquired. ‘The price,’ Pete replied, ‘is always confidential between the seller and his customer.’ Her sister asked, ‘But how could she pay for them?’ Carefully rewrapping the present, Pete handed it back to her and said, ‘She paid the biggest price anyone can ever pay. She gave everything she had.’
Jean was ready to give everything she had to give a gift to her sister whom she loved a lot. Same way, Lord Jesus willing gave it all even to the last drop of his blood shed on the cross to redeem you. So, instead of getting entangled in these worldly meaningless celebrations, let’s prepare our hearts to go to his courts tomorrow to worship him for the gift of the salvation that we have freely received.
