Christmas Past

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do, forgetting those things

which are behind, and reaching forth unto those

things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the

high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3: 13,14

We've probably all watched “A Christmas Carol” on TV almost every year we have lived. Remakes have been done on the movie but I still prefer the original. To be honest, I never liked the idea of going to sleep on Christmas Eve and having three beings enter my bedroom during the night just to teach me a lesson. I think of the three though that I preferred was the ghost of Christmas past. Part of Scrooge’s past was okay but, I have news for him. I could take him back to some of my Christmas past experiences that would make his look like a Sunday school picnic.

I guess we've all done it at one time or another. When Sunday school people thought you and I were little and cute, they wanted us to say a Christmas “piece” for the children's program. Those teachers were smart. They not only approached us but they also worked on our moms because it was the moms who were going to faithfully drill us on those poems that we didn't understand.

My first performance without going into a very long saga was when I was five. It could be I was four...I forgot. No matter the age, it was the nearest thing to emotional abuse I ever went through. Everyone, friends and family were much more excited about my “piece” than I was. My grandmother knit me a long-sleeve, red, WOOL sweater. That was the physical torture part of the whole ordeal. That stuff was scratchy and close to unbearable. At our last rehearsal, I froze. A very nice lady by the name of Alma Lockman who was sitting on the first pew directing things, walked up to the platform where I was standing. She stayed on the main floor and looked really short from my perspective. She gently took hold of my two ankles and said everything she could to calm my nerves. Finally, she said, “Glendarae, you don't have to be afraid because Jesus is here.” I looked all around that place and didn't see Jesus anywhere but let me tell you, that definitely didn't calm my nerves. The thought of Jesus showing up to hear me say my “piece” was no comfort for me. I got through the program though, collected my little brown bag that contained an orange and some stuck together Christmas candy, and was happy to head for home.

Since that time, I said other “pieces” but eventually graduated to bigger and better things. I have been in Christmas plays and cantatas. I have sung from a choir loft, balcony, from behind Christmas trees and even up in a Christmas tree. I've gone Christmas caroling with youth groups, and believe me, we weren't anywhere near to being the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

In all of it, I must admit that with all of that in my Christmas past, there was very little of it that meant anything to me at all. When little, I was too scared to even know what I was reciting or the meaning of it. Many times since, I have just dutifully done what a choir director asked of me. When in high school, most of the time I played either the piano or organ to accompany what needed accompanying. You see, people who direct these things are usually up tight about sound systems, soloists running late, a flu bug circulating among choir members, lighting, etc. Very few times have we been encouraged to recite, sing or play with the real reason for Christmas and keeping our focus on Him. My last choir director was the only one who did things differently from the rest.

I guess all the frills and activities of the holiday are somewhat necessary. However, how much of Christmas do we really take time to think about? I personally feel that Christmas like Easter should be and everyday celebration. One time in the middle of July, some very sneaky friend left a gift on the hood of my car that was parked in the church parking lot. The gift was wrapped in Christmas paper with a beautiful red bow on it. Attached to the bottom of the box was...yep, you guessed it....a Christmas card. It was a card with Scripture celebrating the birth of Jesus. I don't know to this day who she was but whether she knew it or not, she taught me a great lesson that day.

Despite what our Christmas past experiences have been, we can have a wonderful Christmas present and I'm not referring to gifts when I use that word. I love Christmas cards that celebrate the various names for Jesus. Those can be given any time of year. If you're on a committee to help plan a banquet, (maybe a mother-daughter thing) why not a Christmas theme? The same could be done with an Easter theme. Jesus is Someone we can celebrate any day of the year even pulling out our Easter or Christmas decorations for a special event. He is worthy to be celebrated more than just a couple of times a year.

So, forget Christmas past...plan some Christmas “nows”, all the while anticipating our Christmas future with Him for Eternity.

Dear Jesus, I so rarely welcome You to my world. I love celebrating who the world would say You were at one time but You are just as real now. May I recognize You in a celebratory way most every day. I love You and am so grateful You came, coming to save me. I'm so grateful for the fellowship we can have on a daily basis. Because we're where we are this time of year, just let me say, “Happy Birthday, Jesus” Amen