Who Says Jesus Isn’t in It?

When my kids were little I went through a phase — a phase that probably lasted too long and one we may not have fully recovered from. 

I worried that Christmas wasn’t spiritual enough. I felt guilty for buying presents. I worried that telling my kids about Santa was akin to lying to them. Yes, this was some of the propaganda going around at the time, so I’m not entirely to blame…but I regret that phase. 

Because Christmas is a time of magic and wonder. 

And who says that Jesus isn’t a part of that? 

“…we may find ourselves separating from some of the sweetness of life for the sake of being ‘spiritual.’” I recently read this in The Secret Power of Yoga. The author goes on to say, “ We are at once divine and human; spirit dances together with nature, and its expression is joy!” 

Yes, maybe our society has gone crazy with commercialism, consumerism and “keep up with the Joneses-ism.” But we can miss out on the sweetness of the season if we forget the gladness of it — a time of giving and family and laughter. Christmas is a time we all get to watch the light in the eyes of children and even become like children ourselves for one brief moment. 

Again, who can say that Jesus isn’t in that? 

My belief of Jesus is that He is good, kind, giving, warm and peaceful. We sing of Silent Night and “peace on earth, good will to men.” And so we can let it be that! 

We can let all the hustle and bustle be wrapped in peace. That is Jesus. 

We can make our shopping lists with joyful hearts as we imagine the receiver. That is Jesus. 

We can embrace the chaos of the whole family being together again. That is Jesus. 

We can sing the Christmas hymns together in church and in our homes. That is Jesus. 

We can take moments of pause on those rare silent nights allowing the fire (literal or metaphorical) to warm us. That is Jesus. 

“Every good gift comes from God.” That is what we are told. So, even in the harried and hurried moments of preparing the “perfect day” we can embrace such goodness and be glad. Jesus is in all of it — the mess, the silence, the bustle, and the careful preparations. He is there! 

We just have to look for Him and believe. 

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“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand…Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoice to: my flesh shall rest in hope..in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore.” — Psalm 16:8-9, 11