Finding Joy at Christmas

Santa sends letters to children from Santa Claus House in the North Pole, Alaska. But pandemic safety restrictions cancel sitting on Santa’s lap and limit greetings to Zoom, or seeing Santa wearing a mask through plexiglass. Where’s a child’s joy in that? 

Does the daily pick of Christmas stories on TV bring joy? Or are they just a predictable 90 minutes watching families come home for the holidays, buy gifts, donate to charity, bake cookies, drink hot chocolate, climaxed by an unexpected romance ending with a kiss?

Neighborhoods sparkle with Christmas lights, Santas, sleighs, reindeer, and snowmen. But is there joy in the morning? The lights are off and the blow-up figures lay collapsed on the ground. Nativity scenes are hard to find. Not even the traditional Christmas stamp from the United States Postal Service bore any resemblance to the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus revealed in Scripture.

Live Christmas trees are in plentiful supply for the 30 million plus people expected to buy one this year. Perhaps the trend away from “fake” trees is a sign that people are looking for something real this year—something filled with fragrance, life, and joy.

So where do people go to find the true joy of Christmas? The answer is church— the most likely place to hear the Christmas story in Luke 2:9-12:

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified!  But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere!  For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!” 

The Passion Translation

This good news is heard by regular church attendees and 124.4 million CEOs (Christmas and Easter Only). They come to hear Jesus message of full inclusion—for everyone everywhere—seniors and youth, poor and rich, weak and strong, disabled and able,  people of all colors and languages. The joy is in believing that Jesus came to rescue us all. 

So where will you go this Christmas to hear the most joyous news the world has ever heard?

For more of my writings go to https://angelamuirvanetten.com to subscribe to my blog for automatic delivery of weekly posts to your email inbox and for retail links to my book, Pass Me Your Shoes: A Couple with Dwarfism Navigates Life’s Detours with Love and Faith.