First Week of Advent_Saturday, December 7, 2024

First Week of Advent: Saturday, December 7, 2024

In A Charlie Brown Christmas Charlie Brown’s search for “what Christmas is all about” comes to an end in Linus’s quotation of Luke 2:8-14. The restoration of the true meaning of Christmas in Charlie’s mind is transformative. He finds the happiness that he’s been searching for, or put a different way he’s found the happiness that is the spirit of the season.

When he heads home from the theater and runs across Snoopy’s doghouse all decked out in Christmas décor – a first place ribbon proudly displayed, signaling that Snoopy won the cash prize contest that lies behind his decorating – Charlie says, “Good grief. Well, this commercial dog isn’t going to ruin my Christmas.” His happiness restored he’s not going to let the commercial trappings of Christmas misdirect his focus.

Commercialism doesn’t have to ruin Christmas for us. It can if we let it. Its pressure to conform can make us feel pressured, stressed, and guilty (if we don’t live up to expectations). But if we keep our focus on the real reason for the season then we can truly celebrate the season and not give in to the pressures to have everything just right so that Christmas isn’t ruined. Christmas can’t be ruined for those who celebrate it as the observance of the day our Savior was born.

Prayer: Lord God, Christmas isn’t a holiday that you command us to observe. But to celebrate the day on which your Son left His Throne in heaven and became a human being just like us is truly a gift. His coming was the fulfillment of your promises given so long ago to send humanity a Savior from sin and judgment. Help me to observe this birthday celebration with great joy. Amen.