The True Meaning of Christmas 

   “For this day in the City of David there has been born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2: 11) 

   Parents try hard to teach their children the true meaning of the Christmas season, it's just that most children aren’t mature enough either psychologically or spiritually to understand.  They see the Christmas tree, an evergreen tree symbolizing eternal life, with the star atop it which represents the star of Bethlehem, as a really cool place to put all those beautifully wrapped presents below it, hoping that the one they really, really, really want is among them.

   We tell our children the story of an “…infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 12).  We hope to teach them the true meaning of Christmas.  But the story they want to hear is a much different one; one that begins with, "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”  Later they will begin to see the real purpose for the celebration but for now it's all about the gifts.

   In one sense, however, children truly do understand what the true meaning of Christmas is (from the mouths of babes).  Christmas is about the gift of a God who loves us so much that He would give up His glory for a while and become one like us in all things but sin.  It’s about the gift of His passion, and death, paying the price for our sins which we cannot pay.  It’s about the gift of His resurrection, promising our own resurrection.  Finally, it is about the gift of His ascension into heaven, going to prepare a place for all those who would believe.

   As our children grow and mature they will begin to understand which gifts are the important ones, but for now, appreciation and thanksgiving for the gifts under the Christmas tree is perhaps a good beginning to that understanding.