One Holy Night

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7, NKJV)

Christmas. Just the word brings wonderful images to our minds—decorations, lights, shopping, family, celebrations, gifts, carols. Cookie-baking marathons fill the air with mouth-watering aromas. Wrapping paper and bows, the “Ho, Ho, Ho’s” of a mall Santa, special foods, airline tickets, and the sentimental sounds of “White Christmas” all add to the excitement of the season. Oh, yes, and a baby in a manger—we can’t forget that.

Christmas has become a secular holiday celebrated around the world, even in non-Christian countries. Regardless of where one may travel, some familiar sights may be seen. Elaborate decorations, friends enjoying time together, and red-clad Santas blend with ethnic foods and fireworks to mark the occasion.

Even in North America, where we consider the majority as Christian, the secular has crowded out the sacred. As one person described it, “Today the Christian aspect is secondary to most people. Christmas is all about the family and traditions.” Christmas is also about money. The amount spent on gifts, decorations, and holiday entertaining reaches into the billions.

In contrast, I think of the simplicity of that first Christmas night. No one rushed to the airport or scanned the mall for a last-minute gift. The sounds were not those of holiday merriment. Instead, it was the lowing of cattle, the soft bleat of sheep, and the restless moving of a donkey. There was no jolly Santa, just a stressed innkeeper dealing with too many travelers arriving in his small town. All was quiet in a dim corner of a stable behind the inn. A man, a woman, and a tiny baby sheltered there. It was Christmas at its best, though no one that night recognized it as such.

I’m not really a “bah, humbug” person. I like decorating my home, trying to find the perfect gift for a friend, and listening to Christmas music. I enjoy the lights, the barely contained excitement of children, and eating delicious food. I cannot help but notice, however, that much of our time and energy is spent on the secular part of the holiday. It’s like a giant birthday party where we forgot to invite the guest of honor.

How do we balance both aspects of Christmas? Perhaps the word simplicity is the key. The more we simplify, the more we will have time for the things that really matter. Our family will not notice if there are fewer lights and less ornaments. A year from now most of us will have forgotten many of the gifts we received. We will remember the time spent together with loved ones. Hopefully we will also remember the blessing of seeing the sacred valued in our home.

On that long-ago night in Bethlehem, there were no twinkling lights, shiny garlands, or festively wrapped gifts. The angels were not figurines on the mantel but were beings in the heavens praising God and declaring peace on earth. The star was not a treetop decoration but a shining light in the night sky, leading the way to the Savior of the world—the greatest gift of all.