By: Denny

It’s that time of year when organizations do their fundraisers. I think they plan it that way, because people are more in a giving mood between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Salvation Army kettles and ringers have taken up their positions in various locations. Shareathons and telethons are on the radio and TV as well as commercials asking for donations towards a worthy and worthwhile cause. Some days all I get in the mail lately are flyers from political candidates criticizing the others and asking for support and money, which all end up in File 13. (trash) Many schools and churches do fundraising also to support their events. It’s hard to say “No thank you” when a cute little kid knocks on your door and asks you to buy something from a list or booklet of stuff which you hadn’t planned on or wouldn’t otherwise buy. The Girl Scouts used to go door to door taking orders for their cookies, but I don’t know if they do that anymore. When I was in Cub Scouts we sold boxed sets of greeting, occasional, and Christmas cards. That seems to be a thing of the past as many people don’t send cards as much as they used to. If they do, they just go buy a few cards from Walmart or Dollar Tree. Some people, and you know who you are, will still write the annual family autobiography letter detailing events from the past year and include it in a Christmas card or mail it by itself. Lately the trend is to send a postcard imprinted with a family photo and a line saying Merry Christmas or similar greeting. Facebook and other social media make it even easier, and you don’t even need to buy stamps. Within minutes you could post a picture and write your greeting and send it to all your friends, family, and anyone else who can see your Facebook page will get it with only one click of the mouse. Please don’t think that I’m belittling or not appreciative of receiving a Christmas or other special occasion cards. However, I consider it really thoughtful and personal when someone takes the time to write a short note to express their feelings and sentiments. That is what I look forward to seeing first, because it means so much to hear it from them, and it takes precedence over what’s preprinted on the card that somebody else got paid to write. Those are the words that warm my heart and that I will remember. Maybe it’s because I’m a writer, but my wife will tell you how I will often comment, “All they did was sign the card and didn’t write anything.” I may keep the card for a while, just so I don’t feel guilty about putting it in File 13 right away. We get one such card every year at Christmas from a family member who hasn’t spoken to me for 13 years. There was a breakdown in our relationship over what now doesn’t even matter and seems so insignificant, but remains a rift and a deal breaker for them. My attempt to reconcile the situation years ago was met with silence except for the annual “Merry Christmas” card which is empty of meaning and substance.

If God sent a Christmas card, what would it look like and what would He say?  Perhaps it would have a picture or artistic rendering of a Currier and Ives-like snow scene, kids pulling sleds, snowmen, sleigh rides, Santa Claus, reindeer, carolers, trees all decorated surrounded by presents piled high, people warming themselves by a fireplace, or shoppers looking through brightly decorated store windows. More appropriately it would surely depict a manger scene with a glowing Jesus surrounded by angels, shepherds, wise men, animals, and a star in the sky casting a heavenly light on everything.  All these images in their own way give us a special sentimental feeling and attachment to how we see, view, and enjoy Christmas. We also  busy ourselves with shopping to find the perfect gifts. We give in to our cravings to overeat and indulge our palates with all kinds of sweet desserts laden and smothered with chocolate. Christmas lights adorn our houses casting colorful prisms in the night sky. Christmas music is played and heard everywhere you go. As kids we were in Christmas plays at church that told the birth of Jesus which was fun. Even if we forgot our lines everyone in the audience knew the story and had a good time. It was especially embarrassing for parents if their kid waved and yelled, “Hi mom” from the stage when they were supposed to be a quiet sheep. Of course, that was some other kid, I would never do that. I was an angel. (Right now, I have 3 sisters who are laughing when they read this.)

If God sent a Christmas card, I imagine it to be quite simple. It would have a picture of the actual stable Jesus was born in which would look quite different from the picture we have in our minds. It would have a scratch and sniff area for added effect. Jesus would be laying in a very crude feed trough. At the top of the card would be written,  IT BEGINS. At the bottom would be the words, I gave the best gift I could. As you opened the card, on the left half would be one word in large letters at the top, MYSELF. Underneath that would be a picture of Jesus on the cross. Printed below it are the words, IT IS FINISHED. On the right half would be printed, I so loved you, (your name), that I gave my only Son, that if you believe in Him, you will not perish but have everlasting life. For I myself was in Jesus reconciling you to me. It would be a very large thick card because God’s word and personal letter to you, the Bible, would be included. He would simply sign it, I AM, which appears to be in red ink, but was written with the blood of Jesus. Admittedly, a card like that wouldn’t give you a warm fuzzy feeling, but God really isn’t into warm and fuzzy. He wants everyone to know that Christmas isn’t about what we’ve made it to be. At the very core of Christmas is God’s provision for us to be reconciled to Him. The 4^th line in the song, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, is: God and sinners reconciled. The provision and pathway was made by God, being completed in Jesus, but it’s up to each individual to accept it and appropriate it for themselves. In other words, the gift really isn’t yours until you open it, and you open it by surrendering your life to Jesus Christ, the accomplished Son, not the babe in the manger.

In many ways the way we celebrate Christmas, and the condition of our hearts, is like sending God a Christmas card. We say and write the same cliched phrases like, Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, God bless you, Jesus is the Reason for the Season, Warm Christmas Wishes, and so on. Those in themselves aren’t bad and really do have special meaning and sincerity for those whose hearts are right with God. Offering our prayers, songs, and thanksgiving with joy, touches the heart of God. It must be to Him like getting a Christmas card with a personal added note. On the other hand, many are those who speak the same words and sing the same songs, but have never been reconciled to God. They are still holding on to the broken relationship which was caused by Adam and Eve when they sinned. You would never know it by looking at them, but God sees their hearts. How disappointing it must be to God to get the annual Christmas card with just a signature, and nothing else the rest of the year. Jesus was quoting Isaiah 29:13 when he spoke these words in Matthew 15:8, “These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Likewise, it must be equally disappointing to God when people aren’t reconciled to each other, especially those who claim to be Christians. Does God need to send you a Christmas card for you to know that?

I invite you to scroll through the titles in my menu and read the one called “The Gift”. It relates to Christmas and may touch your heart.