Christmas is supposed to be a time for sharing, for giving, for getting together, and for peace and love. And there are plenty of romantic, feel-good movies to watch on television to get us into the mood.
Working as a counsellor, I also know that too often it is a time of loneliness, stress and family strife.
While we like the romantic ideal of togetherness and harmony, we also know that it is 'not real life', that love is not measured in tinsel or by the price of a present, and that everything returns to normal within a very few days.
Here is the real message of love at Christmas: that, while people were greedy, selfish, divided and warring, the loving God sent his son Jesus into the world to freely offer peace, joy, total fulfilment and eternal life to all who would accept it.
It wasn't romantic: the stable was smelly, Mary and Joseph were poor, and they had to become refugees as they fled in fear of their lives. And there was no feel-good ending - for it led to a painful and bloody death on a cross.
But it was an act of total love, giving everything for us, who did not, and do not, deserve it!
No comments:
Post a Comment