|
Wednesday, December 5, 2001 Start with the star One of my family's Christmas traditions is a star that we have for our tree topper. It has been in our family for over 20 years. On one side of the star are three wise men on the backs of camels with their gifts in hand. Each of them is following the bright star in the sky that would lead them to their Lord Jesus Christ. On the opposite side, there is a nativity scene. Mary, mother of Jesus, and Joseph, father of Jesus, the wise men and shepherds are gathered around a lowly manger. A simple feeding trough filled with hay. But in this simple manger lay the One who would die for all mankind out of His love for them. When we put the star on the tree, which is usually a few weeks before Christmas, we turn it with the side showing the traveling wise men facing outward. We take turns doing this every year. And since there are 5, soon to be 6, children in our family, it takes a while to start the cycle over again. On Christmas Day, before we open any presents, or look into any stockings, we turn the star around, to symbolize Jesus' birth. We also take turns doing this. In all of the unneeded hustle, rush and stress of the Christmas season, we try to slow down and remember the true meaning of Christmas, Christ's birth. We all seem to get swallowed up in the decorating, the gift buying, and the card writing, that we forget why we are celebrating Christmas. The whole reason for Christmas is to remember what Jesus did for us, and why God gave His only son to die for us so we could have life. Something that perturbs me is that it is constitutional to have the Santa Claus, the Christmas trees the wreaths and the reindeer, which are all symbols of Christmas tradition; yet we cannot display on city property a nativity scene or candelabra, which are also symbols of Christmas tradition. Whatever happened to "In God we trust?" I know I have gotten a bit off track of my family's tradition for Christmas. But if this nation wants to survive and thrive, we must all fall down on our faces, prostrate to the ground, and cry out for God to heal the hearts and souls of the people in our wonderful country. All of our Christmases will be so much better and more calm if they are Christ-centered.
Bethany Holder Fayetteville
|