Is Christmas worth it?

So much effort goes into making Christmas a "success". It's a day young and old celebrate, that families unite for, put on their kindest smiles, and give each other gifts. It's a beautiful day really- quite magical to many children who often don't feel loved, or elderly who don't have any friends. Christmas is our most widely celebrated holiday in the United States. I love Christmas. Most people do, I think.

I believe it's good at whole. It's good to see people happy, it's good to see families spending time together, generosity, happy spirits, singing, hope, good things. But the question is why? Why all the celebration? Why all the Christmas cheer? All this effort for one day? Is Christmas worth it? And what does Christmas really mean? 

To someone who doesn't believe in Jesus, Christmas might just be a holiday about the money, about the gifts, about the family, and holiday romance, and hopefully better food... But the thought of anyone not having Jesus on Christmas makes me so sad, because it's empty without Him.

What does it mean to truly accept the gift of Jesus that we celebrate on Christmas? What does it mean to know the Christ child? How does knowing Jesus change my life, change your life, and give us hope?

Can we relate to the three wise men who dropped their jobs and work, to search for a King because the hope was greater than their fears? Can we relate to a people so tired of serving the Romans out of slavery that desired the freedom only a Messiah could bring? A people who were tired of following a rule book by the law, a people who were weary and broken by life's expectations, demands, and disappointments.

And then, all of a sudden, He was born, an innocent and needy babe born in a barn and birthed by a young girl. And something was different about this baby. That wise men came from miles away, journeying for years just to worship him, that angels adored him, that he was pure- in a world of sin and darkness- he was light. He was hope. He was different. So different that books were written about him, prophecies were written for-telling him. People were healed by his touch, set free by his gentleness, repented because of his truth. 

Jesus taught the disciples what it meant to be a friend. He took fisherman and gave them purpose and joy. When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he stopped caring about the money, he repented and became a generous and honest man. Mary was set free from adultery and found freedom serving Christ. By beholding Jesus, she learned how to love again. The blind man was given sight, the Pharisees were put in their place, the sick were healed.

What does Christmas mean to me? Christmas means freedom. Christmas means that God sent His son to die for our sins so that we could accept His gift of salvation with Him. It is freedom from the law, freedom from slavery, and freedom to love and behold Jesus. And this Christmas, just like the wise men, I want to come and adore Him. We must search for Jesus, in a world of distractions and noises, the Savior is coming. This Christmas, may we behold Jesus, may we accept the only gift that is everlasting, the gift that truly is life-changing. May we know Jesus and may He change our lives even more this Christmas.