As Christmas time approaches, I have been thinking a lot about why I celebrate Christmas and how I do so, and why other Belizeans do the same. These thoughts enters my head most Christmas season.
This year, I have a little more excitement to create what Christmas celebrating would look like in our home. That excitement left some 10 years ago, and God has been faithful in healing and restoring me and flooding me with His grace to also be there for my family.
Feeling that excitement again feels good and I am encouraged that God's work in me is starting to produce more fruit.
Although surrounded with controversy, Christmas celebration was started to celebrate Christ's birth. I do that and make that my main focus.
As a Belizean, I want my ham and a good meal for Christmas (I don't like turkey). I also desire to purchase gifts for my family.
Reality does not allow for all that to be realized as I want to. Over the years I have been scaling back on the pressures I put on myself, and trying to keep up with cultural expectations. The main one being to buy everything new and do the once a year thorough cleaning.
I have figured out that thorough cleaning throughout the year makes it easier come Christmas.
I have also figured out that the brand new $60 curtain can be a clean one from the past, and new maaly and painting can wait and doesn't have to be done at Christmas time.
Only if I need a new stove or sofa set I will buy it.
My relationships became more important than how my house look.
And, I never forget that there are many who have nothing.
As Christmas approaches, let us keep in mind what really matters, not only now, but in eternity. Keep priorities straight. Enjoy God's physical blessings and share with others who lack.
As believers, I think first and foremost we should make sure that each person and family it's not lacking while we enjoy abundance.
Christ came as a baby, but He grew up to become a man. He is presently alive and with His Father in heaven. He is not this sweet baby anymore, He is the risen King of kings, and Lord of lords. As we celebrate His birth and remember all that happened around that time, let us do so with respect to who He is and has always been, and that we take thought to the fact that we must believe in Him to have eternal life.
