By Allison Bucher
I have always loved the holidays, especially Christmas. I have no shame admitting that I am absolutely the person who starts playing Christmas music on November 1st, sometimes even October 31st, right after the trick or treaters are gone. It’s one of my favorite parts of Christmas, the familiarity, the warmth, the stories each song tells. It was pure magic when I was a kid.
It seems that back then, Christmas was far less complicated. The biggest decision was what we wanted to put on our Christmas list each year. Childhood Christmas was filled with cookies and carols and believing big. There was no doubt in our minds that Santa somehow made his way down the chimney, a sack full of presents in tow, and filled the empty space under the glowing tree. We were mesmerized by Christmas lights, we snacked on candy canes, and the magic of it all made sense in its own way. And then there was the annual Christmas play at church, the one you always hoped to get a part in. Even the class party at school felt like an event to look forward to.
But somewhere along the way, Christmas became more complicated. Now it’s about finding the perfect gift, hoping our outfit is festive enough, and worrying if our Christmas cookies taste okay. The older we get, the more we focus on the meaningless details and the harder we try to make Christmas more meaningful. We try to recreate that magical, cozy, wondrous feeling from childhood through coordinated wrapping paper, perfectly placed decor, matching pajamas, and Pinterest worthy dinners. The wonder that once was effortless, is now scheduled joy.
The more we prep and plan and perfect, the further away that effortless wonder drifts. Christmas used to feel wondrous and effortless but now it feels like a checklist. We light candles, play Christmas music, put up the tree earlier and earlier every year, and hope to feel something genuine, but it just doesn’t feel the same as it once used to. We yearn for what once was, knowing it will never be the same again. But maybe our hearts aren’t yearning for childhood Christmas after all, but rather a return to simplicity. We long for a time when Christmas felt like less. Less work. Less worrying. Less complication.
I’ve tried hard this year to make the holidays feel like less work. I’ve pared things down, cleared my calendar as much as possible, and have tried to find joy in the little moments. But I still find myself feeling empty, unfulfilled, and even a little sad.
I think the problem isn’t that Christmas lost its meaning, but rather that we’re trying too hard to manufacture it. The first Christmas wasn’t perfect. There were no outfits being planned or dinners being prepped, no halls to deck or tinsel to untangle, just a stable, some hay, and a tired young couple doing their best. Yet somehow that humble, unplanned moment, changed the world forever.
Luke chapter 2 is one of my favorite scripture stories about Jesus’ birth, maybe because it’s so familiar. In this season, I can’t help but cling to verses 9 and 10: “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
“Good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” It seems like that’s the part we forget when we grow up. Christmas is meant to bring us joy. Not because we get presents and time off from work, but because our Savior was born. The one who loves us and has made a way for us was born humbly in a stable. That’s the magic we’ve forgotten.
Maybe the Christmas magic isn’t lost. Maybe it’s just found in the smaller, quieter corners of our lives. It’s a familiar holiday song that softens our hearts, a quiet reading of scripture, a moment of rest when everything seems to be momentarily still. And maybe that’s the whole point: God chose something ordinary to bring something extraordinary into the world. He didn’t need fancy lights and presents with giant bows. He gave us the gift of hope in the smallest, most ordinary, yet most beautiful way possible.
Looking for a way to connect with God daily? Check out our daily devotional books: Living in Truth Day by Day *** Living in Truth Mind, Body, Spirit *** Living in Truth: A Christmas Devotional