Sharing the Meaning of Christmas by Patti Shene Gonzales

Are you ready for Christmas? In case you didn’t know, it is a mere month away!

I used to stress over Christmas for all the wrong reasons. Will my family members like their presents? Should I put more effort into decorating the tree? Did I overspend? Have I sent out enough Christmas cards? What if a friend gives me a gift and I didn’t get her one?

It is not uncommon to become so caught up in the commercialism, the materialism, and the expectations of Christmas that the real meaning of the holiday pales into insignificance. The name of Jesus may not be uttered once at a family Christmas dinner, and some in attendance have never read the Christmas story cited in Luke 2:1-15.

Yet, when we consider our friends, neighbors, and acquaintances, we tend to assume they all know about Jesus. Of course, they believe He is the Son of God. Surely, they are aware He came into the world as a babe, humbled Himself to take human form, lived among men to show us the way to truth and light.

Right?

The Bible instructs and encourages us to spread the gospel message, but how are we to know who carries the Good News in their heart and who has never heard it?

We don’t hesitate to recommend a favorite restaurant, a reputable business, or a dependable repairman to others. Yet, we choke up when it comes to extending an invitation to our church. We can carry on an animated conversation about the latest movie or book, but we seldom initiate a dialogue about the last inspiring sermon we heard during a casual encounter.

When Christmas season arrives, it’s easy and safe to donate a few dollars to the Salvation Army kettle at the mall or write a check to support a favorite charity or pack a shoebox for needy children in foreign countries.

These are all worthy causes. However, when is the last time we offered to supply a meal to a neighbor or take care of a single parent’s kids for a few hours?

We may surprise the neighbors with a plate of cookies or a handcrafted gift, but what about our Christmas greetings? Are we selective about who receives a Christmas card adorned with a manger scene and a Christian message as opposed to one with a Santa Claus and a cheerful “Happy Holidays” message? Do we acknowledge the real reason for the season or bury it under a flurry of shopping, spending, and partying?

There is nothing wrong with immersing ourselves in the fun and festivity of the season, sharing time with family and friends, or delighting in the wide-eyed wonder of our kids as they open gifts on Christmas morning. In the midst of the fanfare, though, we need to focus our hearts on Jesus, the Greatest Gift, Our Savior.

Here are a few suggestions how to share the meaning of Christmas:

Post reviews of Christmas novels or novellas with a strong Christian message you have read.

View a Christian Christmas movie with friends. Discuss afterward.

Send Christmas cards with a handwritten note reminding recipients Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Reach out to someone in need with an act of kindness and invite them to Christmas activities sponsored by your church.

How will you share the true meaning of Christmas this year?

 

 

When a zealous elderly lady challenges Cathy Fischer, the widowed main character in my Christmas novella, Cathy’s Christmas Confession, to tell others about Jesus, Cathy is baffled. Surely all her friends, family, and acquaintances know about Jesus, don’t they? When she learns a couple she has known for a few months are unfamiliar with the Christmas story, her eyes are opened to the importance of sharing Jesus with everyone she meets.

Cathy’s Christmas Confession: Book 3 in The Christmas Ridge multi-author series is available in print, on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

 

 

 

Patti Shene Gonzales hosts Step Into the Light, a bi-monthly interview style podcast, where guests share their journey out of darkness or ways they lead others out of darkness. She hosts writers on her two blogs, Patti’s Porch and The Over 50 Writer. Patti enjoyed a thirty-year career as a psychiatric nurse and has always harbored a desire to write. Cathy’s Christmas Confession released in November 2022 and is her first full-length published work. Patti enjoys writing, reading, critiquing, and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Colorado with her devoted feline companion, Duncan.

Connect with Patti at www.pattishene.com