Anyone who knows me can testify
to the fact that when it comes to Christmas, I am a nut. I love everything
about this season of the year – I have the ties, socks, lights, decorations,
and a Christmas music library of about 1,000 songs. Some have even joked about
the enormous power drain my house puts on the power system due to the
ridiculous number of lights that I put up each year.
Since
childhood, this season has always seemed magical. As a child, we would all get
up at the crack of dawn (with prodding from my father). Upon rising, we would
empty our stockings while Mom made breakfast. After eating, we would read the
Christmas story from Luke 2, and then tear into the presents. Each year, now, as
we sit around the tree, I am taken back to those fond memories. Images so
powerful and real, I feel sometimes as if I am still there. Traditions that
became a part of me and my celebration of Christmas, and ones that impact my
family now.
Among
these memories, are times gathered around the television watching such classic
Christmas favorites as White Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas,
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and especially A Wonderful Life (which showed non-stop the entire month of December). Of all these, my
favorite would have to be the story of a little outcast boy, looking for the
meaning of Christmas.
By
now, you may have guessed, I am talking about A Charlie Brown Christmas. This story never ceases to bring tears to my eyes.
The story is one of the most memorable events of Christmas. It may be so
touching, because each of us, at one time or another, can relate to this little
boy. We can relate to a boy searching for something bigger than himself. This
desire is seen in Charlie Brown most clearly, when, at one point during the
show, he cries out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”
The answer comes in the still, small voice of his friend, Linus, who very
simply quotes this passage from Luke 2:
And
there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over
their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and
they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this
shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in
a manger. And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8- 13)
After this, Linus quietly states,
“That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” It is about the birth of
our Savior; the start of a journey that would bring this precious, little child
to a cross that would lead to salvation, not only for myself, but for anyone in
the world who would chose to follow Him. It was a moment in time in which our
Savior chose to step into this world, and drastically change its destiny.
Every time I
hear and see this scene, it sends chills through me. What a powerful message. A
message of hope, salvation, redemption, and cleansing though Christ. The Savior
who had come to live among His creation – Emmanuel, God with us! As we all take
time for family, presents, good food, movies, music, and Christmas traditions,
be sure to remember that the real joy for this day, comes not from the things
we do, but from what was done for us. For in this first step of the Savior,
hope and joy really did come to earth.
Merry Christmas!
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