Firstly, my two and a half year old son has really brought my focus onto Christmas being a celebration of Jesus' birthday because this is the first time he is able to comprehend this special day.
As a family we have needed to make a deliberate effort in explaining our reason to celebrate this holiday, because it is easy to look around and get distracted by other messages about Christmas.
Shops seem to be exploding with Christmas cheer, presenting specials on gifts (and treats) and fashioning the store top to bottom with lights, tinsel and other decorations. Santa Clause appears at shopping centres, Christmas parties, on front lawns and it seems in most directions we look. For many people it's also a special event to drive the streets and look at the dazzling display of Christmas lights.
These symbols of Christmas, however, seem to easily hide or water down the real meaning of the celebration. For Christians around the world, Christmas began as a celebration of the birth of Jesus. This special day held significance because we remembered the present God gave us through the birth of His son into this world. Simply put, Christmas was Jesus' birthday.
For those who believe in the birth of Jesus, I think we must take back ground on the focus of Christmas in our lives and represent this to other's. I don't believe we need to neglect family or Christmas traditions but throughout the celebrations let us remember the meaning of our party and why we are together.
Secondly, my wife has challenged me in one way to do this by deciding this year she would purchase animals for poor people in third world countries (as "present cards" to our friends and family). She feels convicted to give to those in need rather than just submit to the consumerism of Christmas and because it's a birthday gift Jesus would appreciate. Her donation to buy an animal will enable impoverished people to gain income and provide some food for their family. In return she receives a card acknowledging the gift and this is the 'present' she will give to someone.
There are many aid organisations that have special Christmas catalogues for people to do something similar (e.g. TEAR and World Vision).
Another great idea to focus on Jesus and think of what He may like as a birthday present was something my wife did growing up. She would go shopping for a present she wanted and then place it in a collection of presents at a shopping centre to be given out to under privileged children.
There is a comment recorded in the gospels from Jesus that I believe gives a hint of what He would like as a birthday gift. He says "I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me." Matthew 25:35-36. Jesus goes onto explain that while He did not personally receive this service the practice of giving to someone in need is equivalent to blessing Him. I think we can apply this passage by giving a gift to another in need or following through practically in some ways mentioned in this verse.
Besides this idea of giving a present to others in need there are many other ways we can continue to bring our focus of Christmas onto Jesus, not only for ourselves but for friends and family.
This could include inviting family and friends to church with you, asking people you know without Christmas plans to join your family, sing carols on the street or on door steps (a lot of carols have great meaning behind them about Jesus' birth), read through the story of Jesus' birth or volunteer with an organisation who are serving a Christmas meal for the poor. Considering it's a birthday party you're attending you could also have a birthday cake, make a card or sing happy birthday.
The list of possibilities to give Jesus a bigger place at your Christmas would be long, but I would like to challenge you, as I have been, to think about your focus on the holiday and make a few adjustments to your celebration of His birth.
Merry Christmas!
Tim Wilson is married with two children having served as a missionary with YWAM in Brisbane for many and this month relocating to Canada in mission.
Archieve of Tim's articles: www.pressserviceinternational.org/tim-wilson.html