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Reflections

The Wrappings of Christmas

Our Reflections this month will be upon the “Wrappings of Christmas”—not the tissue and foil we use for gift wrappings, but the traditions, circumstances and memories that surround the holiday.

If your house is like ours, sometimes gifts are lost in the wrappings. As we reflect on the holiday, we will try to focus on the Gifts of Christmas, not the wrappings of the season.

The Gift Wrapped in Tradition

Right up-front I have to admit to loving the celebration of Christmas and all that goes with it—the décor, the music, the food and the sense of camaraderie that pervades the atmosphere. Granted, a few Scrooges can be found, but I choose to ignore them.

A lot of interesting traditions have entered the American Christmas scene. The little drummer boy, Rudolph and Santa Claus are nowhere in Scripture, but they are everywhere in our celebrations. Christmas trees, wreaths and candles are not found in the Bible either, but what would our Christmas celebrations be without them?

While some people choose to separate themselves from some of these traditions, I personally have no problem with them. Most portray the spirit of giving which characterizes the Christmas season. Tradition ties us together as a culture. We just have to remember the traditions are merely the wrappings of Christmas, not the gift.

In addition to cultural traditions, family traditions play a significant part in our celebrations and tie our families together. Using Grandma’s china, making the customary family recipes, and hanging the hand-knitted stockings by the fireplace are typical of traditions that mold family members into a unit.

When our girls were elementary-school age, on the sides of tall tapers we marked the number of days until Christmas. Each day we read Christmas stories while the candles burned the allotted amount for that day. We knew exactly which day we were going to Grandma’s. It was a beautiful tradition but, like other family traditions, it was only a pretty wrapping, not the gift.

Sometime during the holidays we have to rip through the wrappings and discover the gift. Otherwise all the traditions are wrappings around an empty box. The ancient prophet Isaiah is very specific as to what the gift is:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NIV).

The gift of Christmas is the gift of a child, God’s Son. It would take a long time to plumb the depth of meaning in this Scripture, but with a surface reading we see several implications. This living gift is born as a child, referring to Christ’s humanity. He is given as a son, referring to His divinity as the Son of God.

Sometimes when we receive a gift, we wonder what we will do with it. This gift of Christmas has purpose. This Child will govern, reigning with wisdom as the Wonderful Counselor, with power as the Mighty God, and with authority as the Prince of Peace. He also will bring us into His family as He is the Everlasting Father.

At Christmas we participate in cultural and family traditions, knowing we are part of a greater Kingdom and larger family because of God’s gift to us. Our rejoicing comes from the gift, not the wrappings. As we focus on the gift, we can say with Paul:

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
(2 Corinthians 9:15, NIV).

Points to Ponder

Which of our actions show evidence of confusing the wrapping with the gift? How can we place more emphasis on the gift than the wrapping? What steps can we use to help children see the difference?

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

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