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“…’Tis the season to be jolly….” So goes the popular Christmas carol. My observation and experience, as well as a
good body of research, indicate that this is also the season for stress,
sadness, and depression.
In the Gospel of Luke, we hear the proclamation of the
angel: “Do
not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for
all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” So how
does the joy get lost in the celebration?
It seems to me that when the
Christmas season does not meet our expectations, it is often because we feel
that we don’t meet its expectations.
Perfectly chosen gifts, beautifully wrapped and placed artistically around
a fragrant, fresh Christmas tree. A
clean, beautifully decorated house filled with the aroma of spiced cider and
freshly-baked cookies. A cozy, glowing
fireplace that mirrors the warmth of the season. Christmas carols sung by the piano, in
four-part harmony, of course. Warm
gatherings with family and friends, free of conflict and tension. Days filled with smiles and laughter. A Christmas letter with nary a struggle or
failure. Wonderful new memories to add
to old ones. And, finally, the boundless
energy required to energetically and enthusiastically participate in all the
festivities.
The first Christmas was anything
but worthy of a modern-day Christmas card.
Jesus was born in a dirty stable to parents exhausted by a long
trip. The Promised Land had been overrun
by the Roman Empire and God’s people were impoverished and oppressed. My guess is that Christmas cookies were in
short supply. And yet the event was lit
by the light of stars of heaven and announced by a host of angels.
The good news ushered in by
Christmas is that we no longer need to worry about meeting expectations. The whole point of Jesus’s coming to earth is
that we cannot meet expectations, most importantly God’s requirement of
holiness. Jesus came to save us from our
sins and our sinful nature. He came to
redeem our fallen world that is reflected in jammed shopping malls, gifts that
don’t fit, wrapping paper shredded by cats, Christmas trees that tumble into
windows, burnt cookies, and the ache of memories of abuse and broken relationships.
Jesus came to earth to do for us
what we cannot do for ourselves: to make us right before God and to prepare us
for an eternity in which all expectations have been met. In the meantime, may the hurts, stresses, and
frustrations of the season become a traditional part of our celebration as they
remind us that Christmas is not about our meeting expectations but about Christ
coming to meet all expectations on our behalf.
