For unto us a Savior is born. For us the Son of God came down to Earth. For you the Prince of Peace was sent to rescue and redeem you. He came for me too. And I am so glad.
Christmas makes me sentimental. I can hear a simple song about this little boy who came to the world naked, cold, helpless, and I find myself near tears every time. All I have to hear is “O Holy Night” and I’m swept away to a place of intimate worship with the Savior of the World. I hear “O Come Let Us Adore Him” and I want to stop right then and there and adore him. I hear “Silent Night” and I can barely sing. Does it get any better than that? Does worship get any more powerful than silence? I know that the angels sing, “Holy Is The Lord! Who was, and is, and is to come!” But sometimes I feel that the Lord gets too big for words…the moment to powerful for sounds to capture my awe and complete reverence.
That’s what I want this season to be. That is all I want for Christmas. I want a Christmas full of moments: rich, moving, and deep. I want to savor everything that is true and right. The Lord is a Lord of abundance and yet I find the world telling me I need more. Now. I deserve it. And yet, my soul longs for more. I think all of ours does. It’s the kind of longing that the world cannot fill. It’s the longing that is fill with rich moments of silent worship, and hands clasped in prayer. It’s the kind of longing that is filled with the richness of manna from God’s word.
Too often I buy into what the world is selling. I get consumed with watching the Christmas movies, and decorating my house, inside & out, and I get hurried along by the crowds. I forget to stop and wonder. I forget to dream and wish. I forget to remember the reason for this entire bustle.
I want to talk to my wife until the wee hours of the morning and enjoy these last few months before parenthood begin. I want to know what her desires are….more than what’s on her wishlist, and yet, so many times, I forget to ask. I want to talk to my family more, and my friends too. I want to catch up with them. I want to reminisce. I want to reflect on this past year.
I want to sing more Christmas songs. And maybe write some of my own….maybe just for me & the Lord. I want to celebrate and worship the little boy who changed my life.