Christmas is all about the Lights, the Music, and the Presents, Right? Sure, why not.
After being ridiculed for his choice of the infamous little Christmas tree, Charlie Brown asked in exasperation, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” It’s been over 50 years (1965) since he first asked that question. And despite Linus giving the right answer every time the show airs in December, you would still think Christmas is all about the lights, the music, and the presents. Right?
When I ask parents about their hopes for their kids at Christmas, the most common answer is they wish their children would focus on the real meaning of Christmas. They aren’t as exasperated as Charlie Brown, but it also doesn’t look like Linus’ answer prevailed. When the same parents were asked about what they focused on as a child, the majority of them, including myself, said getting presents. Apparently, we hold our children to different standards. Yet there is a sense something is different, like we’ve drifted further away from celebrating Jesus’ birthday on December 25th.
So where does that leave us? What are we to do about teaching our kids the true meaning of Christmas? And, just as important, how do we focus on the true meaning ourselves?
Some years ago, the University of Southern California (USC) provided a case study in how we might embrace a perspective that’s not likely to change any time soon and turn it to an advantage in forwarding a different one. USC has long been translated as the “University of Spoiled Children” and understandably so with its glitz, glam, and a student body composed largely of kids whose parents can cover the very high cost of tuition. Instead of beating back on this idea, USC’s marketing folks showed genius by embracing the seemingly negative perspective. One year, they put a picture of a young lady in designer clothes sitting up in a convertible sports car cruising past the campus on the back of the student handbook. The caption asked “The University of Spoiled Children?” Then it proceeded to spell out the ways USC ‘spoils’ its students in all the ways parents and prospective student would hope for. Brilliant.
Let’s do the same for Christmas – use the secular to refocus on what the beloved Holy-day is all about.
Nothing signals the beginning of the Christmas season more than the appearance of lights on the tree, in front yards, and hanging all over houses.The displays grow more elaborate each year. There are even TV shows like “The Great Christmas Light Fight.” Now this is an easy one. Quick jump to the Bible, Old Testament, from the prophet Isaiah (Chapter 9) where the coming of the Savior is foretold. It starts: “A people in darkness have seen a great light. . .” Jesus, the light of the world, was born on Christmas to fulfill the prophecy. When the light shines, it banishes the darkness. And the light is beautiful. Each year we can try to shine His light even brighter and make the world more beautiful. Go see the lights, marvel at their beauty, and then say they represent Jesus’ light.
How about the music? Radio stations start playing ‘Christmas’ music earlier every year. Yet what songs qualify as Christmas songs are often simply winter songs (e.g. ‘Let in Snow’, ‘Sleigh Ride’, ‘Winter Wonderland’). But there are plenty of Christmas songs. And with MP3 players and digital music services you can be picky with your playlists. But let’s take a couple of Santa Claus songs you and your kids will hear countless times. Good chance you can recite “He sees you when your sleeping, he knows when you’re awake; He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.” Those lyrics pretty much speak for themselves. Just substitute God for Santa. It’s consistent with the belief in God’s omniscience. And you cannot go wrong with “Be good for goodness sake.” Next consider when Santa Claus is coming right down Santa Claus Lane – “He doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, He loves you just the same .Santa Claus knows we’re all God’s children, That makes everything right, So fill your hearts with Christmas cheer, ‘cause Santa Claus comes tonight . . . Peace on earth will come to all, If we just follow the light. So lets give thanks to the lord above that Santa Claus comes tonight!” That doesn’t even need any explanation, just sing it loud with your kids. There are no shortage of great examples of the real meaning of Christmas in what might be considered secular Christmas songs. That was even easier than the lights.
Then there’s the biggie – The Presents.There really is no getting past them. But let’s take presents for what they are – the climax of a birthday celebration. And what a birthday celebration! It’s Jesus’ birthday and you get the gifts. Just shows how awesome Jesus is. You go to His birthday party, but you get the presents. Since it’s a birthday, bake a cake. Put Jesus’ name on it, light 2 candles (1 for each millenia), and sing. The presents make a whole lot more sense in terms of the real meaning of Christmas.
Can we embrace the secular Christmas symbols to get to the true meaning of Christmas? Absolutely. And maybe we’ll find that they are not so far removed from what Christmas is really all about.