Instead of providing a "yes" or "no" response to the question, I opted to say, I will give it careful consideration. In retrospect, a more thoughtful reply would have been, I'll make it a matter of prayer. In essence that is the approach that I took.
I don't consider it a character flaw, but I generally ease into Christmas the same way I ease into a swimming pool when the water is a little too cool. I pace my steps along the pool's declining surface to allow my body to gradually adjust to the water’s temperature. I am the same way with Christmas. I have to ease into the experience.
At some point in the process, I always yield my protective reluctant approach and embrace the traditions and celebrations associated with Christmas. Wouldn't you know it, this past Sunday was the beginning of Advent.
This past Sunday was the last Sunday in November. In the course of worship, we sang three hymns that highlight the importance of living with a sense of gratitude. We are told in Scripture that God is the author of all good gifts that come our way.
James expressed it like this: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [James 1:17]
The Psalmist wrote: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about?
The psalmist also wrote: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
In a natural response of worship, we moved from the concept of thanksgiving to the gift that was given to us through the message of Christmas. The message of Christmas reflects God's gift of Christ, the sacrificial lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Perhaps the most well-known verse in Scripture in John 3: 16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The life provided through Christ meets our greatest needs. With that gift comes life everlasting. Without it, we are without hope. How could we not be both thankful and exuberant about Christmas?
Because of God’s gift at Christmas – the long-awaited Messiah, the promises of Christ ring true. John 14:27 chronicles the words of Christ: - “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Christmas proves that God is painfully aware of our need for that which only He can provide. Consequently, the presence of gratitude is a natural response to the gift of life that we have received. So why not link Thanksgiving and Christmas together?
Pay careful attention to the words of the Psalmist in Psalms 71 vs 5-6: For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. He goes on to add: “I will ever praise you, I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.”
I think it is really important to remember those times when the strength of the Lord is most evident because when we’re going through an inordinately tough time, it sometimes doesn't feel like he is there.
There is a definite link between gratitude and Hope. John Ortberg expressed it like this:
- Gratitude is the pleasure of hope come true.
- Hope is the pain of gratitude postponed.
He went on to say: "Gratitude comes easy; by its own steam whenever we know someone has given a real gift. Hope comes harder. Sometimes with our back to the wall. Laden with doubts that what we hoped for will ever come.
"Gratitude always feels good, it is as close to joy as we can get in this world. In contrast, Hope can feel unbearable when we passionately long for what we do not have and it is taking too long to come to fruition. For example, the restlessness of a farmer waiting for rain after an August without a drop".
Ortberg suggests that Hope always comes as a blend of three ingredients
- The first is a dream. We can hope only if we have eyes to see into a glass darkly. What it would do for us if we got what we hoped for?
- The second ingredient is desire. We can hope only for what we want. We cannot hope for something just because we think we are supposed to. You have to genuinely want it.
- And the third ingredient is faith. We keep on hoping only so long as we believe that our dream can or will come true and our heart’s desire for it will be satisfied.
All My Best!
Don