It has been said, “You can never have too much of a good thing.” In my opinion, there are few instances in which this saying is relevant. Coffee, for instance, is a perfect example of a “good and perfect gift from above” (James 1:17), something that God gave to us to enjoy in bounty. There is, however, one thing that comes to mind that tends to get old when there is too much of it. So, let’s just cut to the chase.
CHRISTMAS SHOULD NOT BE CELEBRATED UNTIL AFTER THANKSGIVING.
Now, for those who are already in a holly jolly spirit, wait just a moment before going and calling me Ebenezer Scrooge. I truly do believe Christmas is one of the best holidays – the birth of our Savior, gingerbread house building contests and watching Hallmark Christmas movies on repeat are all things that should not be downplayed. However, even Scripture agrees with the fact that there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3).
The first argument I would like to make in regards of Christmas needing to wait to have its time to shine is that Thanksgiving does not get the recognition it deserves. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that in the world of holidays, Thanksgiving is the middle child, falling right in between Halloween and Christmas. Spoken as a true middle child, I can attest to the fact that we are often pushed to the side.
Thanksgiving is near and dear to my heart because of the way it brings people together. Now, any holiday can do this, but what I have come to notice is that Thanksgiving is not nearly as commercialized as Christmas or Easter. This commercialization of imaginative figures such as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny can easily distract from the true reason we celebrate these holidays, which is Jesus Christ. So, in short, Thanksgiving deserves its time in the spotlight. Now, you may be thinking, isn’t the birth of the coming Messiah something to be celebrated year–round? This is a reasonable question, and one that leads to my next point.
Nowhere in Scripture does it mention exactly when the birth of Jesus took place. A common belief is that because the shepherds were outside tending their sheep when they heard about this good news, it was likely to be in the spring, but no one can know for certain. So, yes I agree with the fact that we should often remember the birth of our Savior and offer up thanks to God in prayer for it.
The reality, though, is that when people start celebrating Christmas weeks or even months in advance, it is often not with the intentions of remembering Jesus’ birth. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying fun activities the holiday season brings, these things can often shift our focus away from the true meaning of Christmas.
What I have found that helps me to keep my eyes focused on Jesus during the holiday season is participating in advent: Each day in December, taking a moment to quiet my mind and be still to remember how and why Jesus came. This is something I would encourage everyone to do, because even when our lives don’t slow down, Jesus longs for us to slow down, taking a moment to sit at His feet.
