In the countryside where I spent most of my childhood, certain wildflowers brought about the early spirit of Christmas. These flowers often brought with them the smell of Christmas, with its festive celebrations in the Purvanchal Range of the Himalayas extension, the hills have sloped down to a certain level, merging with grasslands in between the hills. We have been busy harvesting and selling the mustard leaves for the festival coming up.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!At home and in the hills, my grandfather and father would be busy preparing for short sermons. While my father would sometimes preach on selected dates, my grandfather, who was a Pastor of a vast area, would like spend Christmas in some other villages.
Whether at home or while working in the hills and valleys, they would discuss with us the meaning of Christmas, which solidifies the spirit of Christmas in our minds.
The early Christmas reminders:
The early spirit of Christmas is not only for retailers or wholesalers, as we now see the world once we get connected with the outside world. Thanks, or maybe not thanks to the internet and smartphones, which stole our time.
Now in the city where I am living, the decorations of the shopping malls, the offers in the daily newspapers often served as a reminder of the early spirit of Christmas.
Without diving into the word of God, it’s just a festival that too shall pass if I am in good health, attending the church service, and being mesmerized by the bubbles and exaggerated decorations of the festival.
During this time, some people would be busy gathering new items or gifts, even for the Advent Christmas organized at different levels. It really was a great privilege to have religious freedom so that we could celebrate the coming of the Savior some 2000 years ago.
Not the early celebrators:
No one is early nor is one later than the other in the spirit of Christmas. However, we were not early celebrators of Christmas in the world.
The Gospel of Christ reached our region in the first decade of the 20th Century. Hence, we may not be the early celebrators, yet the feeling of gratitude is beyond measure.
In some ways, as many critics noted, the transition from animism to the newly introduced light did impact our region in different ways. While some of the societal setup and changes brought about by the missionaries were mistaken as a gain for the hierarchical system in the society, our gratitude towards the greatest gift of God – his own son- is unfathomable.
Stooping low in spirit and power:
While the restoration of fallen mankind cannot be complete without shedding of the holy blood, the Son of God has stooped low on the ground where the fallen had spent their mortal life.
This act of kindness and grace is beyond the mystery that the descendants of the woman could understand. Even today, many earthly intelligent persons have denied the intellectualism they gained from the created brain by the Creator.
The sacrificial work of Christ began with his obedience to the Father, followed by being born as the created being in a manger, at Bethlehem. There can be no humbling of this stature than the nativity story of Jesus. You may read The Nativity Story here.
Worship in the spirit:
The earliest worshippers included the shepherds, the Magi from the east, who acknowledged his coming and purpose by gifting the infant Jesus at the place of his birth.
The visit of the shepherd and the Magi brought together the different levels of people in the societal norm of the time and for the time to come.
The lowest or almost outcast who live outside the city, and people of noble birth came in his presence. Both the earliest visitors could see the supernatural side of the baby at his birth. Later, the man of God Simeon also recognized the Son of man. Thus, the great tidings of joy brought about by Jesus are for all.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:23,24
Quietude of the emotions:
On the day of Christmas, I often control. My emotions, I needed to do it to prevent overtures or being overtired. I am no longer the person who was cheerful as a child, but very reserved to prevent myself because of my health limitations.
It often bothered me that these limitations of mine might reduce the happiness and joy spreading around at the time of Christmas to my immediate family and anyone around me.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. Isaiah 32:17-18
In the stillness of time, we commune with Him, and in the stillness of our hearts, we hear his words. Then our troubled hearts often remained calm in his presence.
Check out my book, The Christmas Gifts: Special Edition, here!
Merry Christmas to you!
Blessings in Jesus’ name!
