IF WE ONLY BELIEVE
By CHERYL CRUCE
It is the Christmas season, and a winter chill has decided to greet the deep south with a blanket of frost. Afghans decorate couches and recliners for warmth as fireplaces push back the cold. Children are excited about the jolly ole elf who magically delivers the best toys underneath the Christmas tree.
Christmas is a time of excitement and good cheer. As a child, I would watch my Mom put together a silver Christmas tree, each limb fitted into place and decorated with red balls. As a final touch, a red, green, yellow, and blue light rotated beneath the tree, reflecting the colors of the season. Butterflies would churn in my stomach as I awaited the magical morning when the gifts would appear. I remember lying in my bed, unable to sleep, as I listened for the sound of reindeer on the rooftop. I am amazed at how quickly my childhood passed by.
The silver Christmas tree with rotating light remains an essential decoration in my home today. It is a childhood memory I have held onto. The red ornaments faded over the years and have been replaced with newer ones. The meaning of Christmas has also changed. I no longer listen for the reindeer hooves on my rooftop. Nonetheless, I still have the desire to receive that special gift underneath the tree. I have grown through the years of telling my children that Santa Claus would soon be here. I used to enjoy the excitement in their eyes as they found it hard to sleep. I miss those days with them; however, I enjoy watching them share the magic with my grandchildren.
So goes the seasons of life; it changes so quickly. I would love to have one more Christmas with my mom and dad or one more day with my children underfoot. Yet we cannot go back to yesterday. We can look forward to tomorrow, to a time when all longing will cease. In the scripture, we learn of a time when King David and Bethsheba lost a child. King David knew he could not bring his son back to this world; David’s response to his grief was to prepare his heart for the day when all longing would end (2 Samuel 12:14-3).
In this lies our hope as well, the preparation of our hearts. We celebrate Christmas with a tree, gifts, and good cheer. However, the most incredible gift given was laid in a manger made of stone. King David could not bring his son back to life, yet generations later, a son would be born, bringing eternal life to all who believe. When we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the end of all longing. We celebrate a kingdom where all sadness and grief subside. We observe an eternal life where the hope, peace, joy, and love of advent are endless. Christmas is a time of preparing our hearts to meet those that have gone before us.
Jesus, the baby, born at Christmas, grew to be a man who became a great teacher, spending three years of His life sharing the Kingdom of God. The seasons of His life changed as well. His life, death, and resurrection prepares us for eternal life if we only believe. And that is the constant that remains every Christmas season.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.