In celebrating my first Christmas in retirement, I am sharing past columns I’ve written about Christmas. I call them the 12 columns of Christmas. The following was written for Dec.25, 2016.
Merry Christmas. Today is a day for celebration. A day when we mark the birth of a man who changed the world more than any other who has walked on the Earth. A man who drew his first earthly breath in a stable surrounded by animals and then was honored and praised by kings.
He lived a childhood like many of us, and grew into a man unlike any of us. He spoke love in the midst of hate. He showed kindness when faced with anger. He offered forgiveness beyond what any of us could imagine.
It was not only significant that he was born in a lowly setting, it also was important. The humblest of beginnings put him in position to teach us humility. It was the first of many lessons he would share.
At this time of year, we gather together, because Christmas is a time for families and friends. We should put on hold our busy lives to reflect on who and what is important in the world — something we do too infrequently and too briefly.
There are some who will tell you that Jesus wasn’t really born on the 25th of December. That may be true. Does it matter? What is really important about this day is that we acknowledge his birth. It’s a day when we center our attention on love and peace. On forgiveness and compassion. On hope. Even if you aren’t a member of the Christian church, those things still hold true.
On this day, all believers in God — Jews, Muslims, Christians — need to renew our commitment to love, tolerance, compassion, peace and understanding. Dec. 25 isn’t just the celebration of the birth of a baby boy, it’s also the recognition of all that is good in the world. It’s fitting that we call him the Prince of Peace.
So on this day we give presents because of the greatest gift, which God presented to us. It came first in the birth of Jesus, then in the gift of forgiveness. That’s not a gift we can buy. It’s not a gift we can earn. But it is a gift that is ours by simply accepting it.
It also is a gift that we need to share with others.
Some people refuse to acknowledge the Christ in Christmas. As a result, many others have replaced Christmas greetings with holiday greetings. When and why did a loving Christmas greeting become something we are expected to avoid?
Christmas isn’t something that’s just between Christians. It’s something Christians need to share with the world around them. Not just in what they believe, but also in how they act and what they say. It begins with faith, but it then needs to be put into action. And it needs to be carried throughout the year.
So say Merry Christmas to those you meet. More important, show Merry Christmas. It’s a sign of who you are, not who others are or who others believe you should be.
It’s a sign of the miracle of life and the essence of love.
It’s a sign of peace at a time when we need that more than ever.
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