The Stress of Christmas!

Here we are less than one week away from Christmas. I know some of you are panicking. There is yet shopping to be done. The cookies need to be baked. The meals need to be prepped and the house cleaned. Oh, and don’t forget all the wrapping!  I know at times it can be a bit overwhelming, preparing for Christmas. For sure, Christmas can be filled with lots and lots of stress. Yet, I dare to say, most of us wouldn’t trade the world for it.  

As I read the gospel account of that very first Christmas—i.e., the events surrounding the birth of Jesus—I can’t help but notice that, that first Christmas was as well filled with all kinds of stressors. For one, Mary and Joseph had to deal with the reality that Mary was pregnant before they were married. After all, who would have actually believed that she had become pregnant by means of the Holy Spirit? For sure, Joseph had to make a very hard and stressful decision as to whether or not he should move ahead with his marriage to Mary.

Then there was the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a 70 mile trip that would have taken them close to a week to travel. And, at that point Mary was nine months pregnant! Then, as if to only make matters worse, when they arrived in Bethlehem, there were no guest rooms available. Thus, they had to stay where the animals were kept—most likely, a cave-barn. As we know, it was there that the baby was born and then laid in an animals’ feeding trough!  Not the most ideal setting for the birth of a baby and not the cradle of first choice!   

It's true, that first Christmas was indeed filled with stress, anxiety, fear, and confusion…and exhaustion! Yet, I would venture to say, in the end, Mary and Joseph were very, very glad for that first Christmas day. After all, can you imagine what it was like for them, even in that barn of sorts, to hold that baby boy for the very first time, knowing that he had been conceived as a miracle from God to be the Messiah of mankind? Can you imagine what it was like for them when, eight days later at his circumcision, Joseph pronounced his name for the very first time, “Jesus,”—i.e., “the Lord saves,”—just as the angel had instructed him to do. Add to that, the visits by the shepherds and the magi and the stories of the angels.  

It's no wonder the Christmas narratives are filled with joy, praise, and rejoicing—both from men and from angels. In spite of all of the difficulties leading up to that first Christmas—and some that would follow—the end result was, “…a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:11 – NIV) Yes, all the stress of Christmas, was well, well worth it!   

In these next few days, leading up to this year’s Christmas, as you finish up your shopping, cleaning, baking, decorating, wrapping, etc., take some time to consider what your life and our world would be like, if it were not for the birth of the One whose birthday we celebrate. Take time to consider what this holiday (“holy day”) is really all about. And give thanks. 

Our Savior has been born! Thus, with the angels we sing, “Glory to God in the highest!” 

Have a merry and blessed Christmas! 

- Pastor Tim Harris