Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (James 1:23-24)

For me, it’s not really the Christmas Season until I hear Andy Williams burst out in song, “It’s the most Wonderful Time of the Year!” Yet, I know for many this time of year is not so wonderful. Aside from the depression and loneliness that many feel, the stress is overwhelming for a lot of us. I can’t help but wonder though if the season would be more wonderful if we all remembered to stay full of wonder. I believe our posture toward Christmas, and more importantly toward the God of Christmas, determines how we experience the season. James has a stark warning for believers. When we forget to love the Lord our God with our whole heart, and forget to love our neighbor as ourselves, we are like a person who sees himself in a morro and immediately forgets what we look like when we walk away. Perhaps part of the mystery, of the calling Christmas is to stop and take inventory, to self-reflect, to examine out lives more deeply. Paul echoes this sentiment when he says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

It is no coincidence that the theme of self-reflection, of assessing the world and one’s place in it seems to be a recurring theme so many classic Christmas stories. In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is confronted with his own past, with the present reality of those outside himself, and the future ramification of his actions and inactions on the world around him. Through that crisis of self-discovery, Scrooge finds himself wanting and emerges with a newfound sense of wonder and awe at Christmas.

And it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”

– Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol in Prose : Being a Ghost Story of Christmas. December 1843, Page 66)

In It’s Wonderful Life, George Bailey can’t see the beauty and miracle of a life well lived past his own sense of failure. Not until Clarence helps him see the impact his life has had on the world around him, is he able to untangle his feelings of disillusionment, dissatisfaction, and disappointment like a jumbled strand of Christmas lights and see that “No man is a failure who has friends.” This is a little of what Jesus was talking about when he admonished us to “turn and become like little children.”

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

Perhaps, if we remember to wonder at the miracle of Emmanuel, to see the wonder of creation, to esteem the wonder of our own lives, then Christmas will once again be wonderFULL to us.

God bless us, every one!

Let’s Pray!

Gracious and Loving Father:

Heavenly Father, in this holy season of Advent, we thank You for the miraculous gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, whose birth brought light and hope into the world. Fill our hearts with the wonder and awe of that first Christmas, reminding us that the true meaning isn’t in gifts, but in the salvation You offered. 

Make us to see beyond the traditions to the divine love at the center of it all. Open our eyes to Your presence, that we may experience the profound wonder of this holy season and carry its peace forward. 

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.