What is Christmas Spirit?

This time of year you hear people say that they just can't get into the Christmas spirit. I think we all know what they are saying. We may experience it ourselves. But what is it really we are saying? Is it something that goes back to our childhood and the feeling we get around Christmas time? Can't wait till school gets out, helping dad put the lights on the house, buying a tree and hanging lights and ornaments. Then there are the smells. The smell of the Christmas tree, the smell of mom's Christmas cookies, the smell of a fire burning in the fireplace. (Maybe even chestnuts roasting?) All of these plus other traditions help put us into the Christmas Spirit.

But there are things that seem to prevent us from getting there. Busy schedules both at work and parties and shopping for our friends and family. Relationships that turn sour or are difficult may also keep us from that spirit. What are your reasons for not getting into the Spirit?

Maybe we have the wrong idea of what Christmas Spirit is. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, the Savior, Immanuel. God with us who saves us from the ills of the world with a message of hope and peace. Followers of Jesus are called to duplicate this message. The spirit of this season would then be a message of hope. (Actually this should be year round!)

How then does this play out? For me, when I see God's people give sacrificially to help others, that gets me into the Christmas spirit. It is even enhanced when I get involved. The more it happens, the more I see God at work bringing hope to people. Lately, I see that almost every day. A couple of examples were mentioned in the previous post. I will be posting some events that have taken place over the past couple of weeks (now that I have pictures.) I have seen people get laid off from their jobs and watched their friends and family rally around and help them in many different ways.

Being apart of Farm Drive, we see so many people adopt families for Christmas and go out of their way to be help to those less fortunate. When I get fed up with the commercialism of the Christmas season, I think of all that is being done to others in need and that helps me get in the Christmas spirit!