If It Weren’t for Christmas. . .

Like a tidal wave’s annual visit to the shores of a placid existence, Christmas inundates us all, turning lives upside down, putting normal routines on hold, receding only with the greatest reluctance, and leaving behind debris-strewn houses and worn-out parents. The joyful chaos of Christmas now gathers in the first of December to New Year’s Day in order to celebrate with all the loved ones in the various circles of family, friends and acquaintances. The damages nearly require federal assistance. I’m not complaining. As out-of-breath as the season makes us, we need appreciate it and make it as merry as we can.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would never get to see some members of our family except at funerals or under traumatic circumstances.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would totally lose touch with people from the past who still remember to send us cards and photographs.

If it weren’t for Christmas, our houses would never glow with strands of lights and scented candles and happy faces.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would never pack the car with gifts and take off to some out-of-the-way little village to see Grandma and Grandpa.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would never rise at five in the morning to get that special present.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we may never finish that remodeling job to entertain guests for the parties or even rearrange the furniture to make room for a tree or piles of presents.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would never give or receive expensive, exotic gifts that have little practical value except that they make us squeal with delight.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would never smell the aroma of freshly baked cookies, sink our teeth into Macadamia Nut fudge or drink chocolate brownie flavored coffee.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would never visit a nursing facility or a shut-in’s home with a group of well-wishers and sing Christmas carols.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we wouldn’t hear voices of loved ones over the phone lines or air waves whom we talk to so rarely.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we may never feel generous enough to drop dollars into red kettles, write checks for a needy family or spend a little more than we should for a special person.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we may never wear that stupid hat or that obnoxious red and green battery-operated tie with flashing lights and makes everyone giggle or groan.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would never sit through a play that we’ve seen fifty or sixty times to hear amateur children with wavering voices and forgetful minds stumble through their parts.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we wouldn’t have traditions of eating turkey, ham or lamb trimmed with dressing, accompanied by cheesy potatoes, green-bean casserole with a crispy onion topping, or cheesecake with graham-cracker crust.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we may never dress up and grin big for group pictures, family photos or cute shots of the newest babies making silly faces.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would have nothing to turn our cold, bleak, overcast December days into festive occasions when everyone has such a great time.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would never be dazzled by fabulous displays in department store windows or see huge Christmas trees lit up for the community.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we wouldn’t see splashes of color on wrapping paper, creative ways to make bows, or imaginative ways to decorate rooms and inspire hearts.

More importantly, if it weren’t for Christmas, we would be spiritually impoverished without the Christmas story prophesied by Old Testament prophets.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would never know the One whose name is Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father or the Prince of Peace.

If it weren’t for Christmas, there would be no celestial angel choir, no reverent shepherds bowing before a manger, no guiding star.

If it weren’t for Christmas, we would have no wise men seeking out the Christ child and no gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

If it weren’t for Christmas, there would be no incarnation; if there were no incarnation, there would be no Word made flesh; if there were no sinless flesh, there would be no sacrifice for sins.

If it weren’t for Christmas, there would be no redemption of lost man, “for the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”