Pondering Christmas

One of my family’s traditions is to listen to an old audio recording called “An Old Fashioned Christmas”. I’ve since discovered that it is the rehearsal track for a play that was written in the 1970’s. The play explores the activities of a family in the 1800’s around Christmas as told through their 12-year-old daughter’s diary. The story opens with the narrator pointing out how hectic Christmas has become and how we never have time anymore to enjoy the season or remember the reason that we celebrate. “Why can’t Christmas just be Christmas?” he asks. “A plain and simple old fashioned Christmas.” The story then describes what Christmas used to be like, filled with family and friends, church, and plenty of time to ponder the gift that was given over 2,000 years ago.

One of the most profound verses in scripture is found in Luke’s version of the story of Christ’s birth. After talking about the baby being laid in a manger and the shepherds showing up to worship the child then telling everyone about it, Luke says, “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). You know, worship is important and sharing the story of God becoming man is essential, but how often does all the activity crowd out the pondering? This year, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, carve some time out from the shopping and cooking and actually ponder Christmas. Ponder the gift that was given so long ago and celebrate its effects in your life today. It’s not too late to have a plain and simple old fashioned Christmas.