The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Andy Williams recorded a great classic many years ago that began like this:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you “Be of good cheer”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It’s the hap-happiest season of all.
There is no other Holiday Season that has the meaning as that of Christmas. As Christians we use this time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – the fact that God Himself would take off the cloak of divinity to cloak Himself with that of humanity, only to later die for the sins of all mankind.
As you enter this joyful sacred time of the year remember the reason for the season, but also use it as a time for reflection, and prayer for those who may be less fortunate than yourself.
Not Everyone Enjoys Christmas
While Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, for many it is a time of sadness and despair. According to statistics, more people experience depression/despondency during this great Holiday season, than at any other time of the year. The time that we use to celebrate the greatest birth ever on this planet, is ironically the time for more suicide attempts.
Maybe the reason for the depression is because some are alone and have no family with which to share the joyful time. I know this is true in many nursing homes across our nation. Our elderly are herded into them by kids who do not want or cannot afford the responsibility of caring for an aging parent. Unfortunately, many of these nursing home residents seldom, if ever, get a visit from those they have given their lives for – their families.
Some may suffer depression because their finances did not afford them the opportunity to give everyone the gift they really desired to give – causing not only a feeling of depression, but also inadequacy. If this is the reason, it really testifies and condemns that in which we have evolved this great time of year – commercialism, rather that spiritual awakening and renewal.
Jesus’ birthday is the only birthday in the world where gifts are given to everyone else but the person whose birthday it really is.
What You Can Do to Ensure the Season Remains Joyful for All
When I have shared my thoughts about this with others, they usually say something like: “But Jesus is not here for us to give Him a gift.” My response is, “Au Contraire” (French for “On the Contrary).
Jesus may not physically walk this earth today, but His Body – His Church does. Many Church people spend God’s tithe and offering on “Black Friday” shopping sprees, rather than give it to the Church. Why not, in addition to your tithes, this year give a sizeable offering to God’s House for use in the ministry of our Lord. Your gift to Him should exceed the amount you spent on others – after all no one has ever given you what He has, eternal life.
Another gesture would be to find someone less fortunate than you are and do something special for them. Do not consider what they can do in return for you. If your gift giving is predicated on what others are going to give you, you haven’t given anything – all you have done is swapped, or traded. It is never a gift when something in return is expected (this does not mean that something cannot be given to you – it only means you do not expect or demand it).
A real gift is giving to someone who cannot give back.
In Closing
Chitwood and Chitwood wants to take this moment to thank every Church, Ministry, and Minister for the opportunity to take the burdensome load of bookkeeping and IRS reporting from you.
We do not take our role lightly. For us it is “A Ministry – Not A Job!”
On behalf of myself and all of our staff, let me say to each of you, Merry Christmas. We pray that it will be one of great joy for you and your families.
