A Contemplative Christmas

There are many aspects of Christmas that never change and for that I am thankful. Jesus is always the Prince of Peace, Immanuel the true “reason for the season”. But how we observe the holiday seems to change each year depending on circumstances, finances, relationships, etc. I have found that the “circumstances” surrounding our Christmas have caused this to be a “Contemplative Christmas” for the Noel’s. Frankly, we are thoroughly enjoying it! Since the entire holiday season fell on the heels of our trip to Italy we intentionally chose to scale back on Christmas this year…very few presents and even a limited number of decorations. As a result, we feel much less stress and are enjoying the time together and the absence of pressure to shop as in the years past!
The term “contemplative” simply deals with contemplating or thinking about something with increased measure. It is the type of thinking that Mary did when she watched the wise men visit her son and watched him grow into a young man. She watched all these things and “pondered” them in her heart. Henry Blackaby refers to this as “processing”. It is the practice of considering, thinking, pondering, digesting ideas or events so that they influence you or become part of you. I have to say, I have “contemplated” the essence of Christmas more this year than I have in recent memory. I can’t recall being blessed more deeply by the truth and the reality of Jesus as Immanuel. As for me and my house…we are planning on more “contemplative Christmas’s” in the future!
So, again, let me wish you and yours a very contemplative Christmas! I encourage you to ponder, think about, process and digest the truth; that Jesus himself set aside the glory of heaven and took on the very nature of a human and became a baby! He did it for two very simple reasons…His love for the Father and His love for us. That is the essence of Christmas and there is nothing that you can receive that is more blessed than that!