The Christmas iceberg
I can't stop thinking about Christmas. I walked into Big Lots and a stupid grin stretched across my face because the inflatable Christmas yard ornaments were discounted. I thought through the scenario of adding one a day for the rest of December to our front yard.
“Merry Christmas!” the checker declared as I left the store empty-handed. “Merry Christmas!” I said, reciprocating the seasonal well-wishing.
I love this time of year so much. Everything about it.
I love the lights, trees, music, weather, and cheesy movies. But they are all just the tip of the iceberg.
While the iceberg illustration is used for everything indicative of a larger reality than what we can see, it’s true for Christmas.
While I get giddy over tinsel and holiday sales and inflatable yard ornaments and sing along with Dominic the Donkey1, they are all shadows of a larger, much more wonder-full reality.
“Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12)
The tip of the iceberg may get it noticed. However, unless you understand what’s underneath it, you won’t change course.
May you ponder (like Mary) the wonder of Christmas this season, and may you look beneath the noise, lights, parades, sales, and more to a much more significant and beautiful reality.
Seeing the real beauty of Christmas will be course-changing and life-saving for you. Jesus has come. This is good news for all people.
Yes, it’s a Christmas song. You’re welcome:
I just listened to Dominick the Donkey,,, honestly, it was kind of annoying,,, HAAAA.. On another note, I re read my reply from 2020, and cant believe its already three years since Ruthie was born on Dec 7th. Oh how incredibly fast the years fly by, she is our second grandchild and is now 3, . Life has gotton busier, now with 3 grandchildren. This year once again because of chronic pain issues, Ive been sidelined with pain , but its been a blessing as well to stop, reflect, rejoice, rest, and focus on Christ , which is where the focus should be, even if I werent in increased pain and dysfunction . Thank you Jeff for these reminders so stop and focus on Christ.
The definition of wonder in the Webster 1828 dictionary is; that emotion which is exited by novelty or the presentation to the sight or mind of something new , unusually strange, great, extraordinary, or not well understood; something that arrests the attention by its novelty grandeur or inexplicableness. Oh the true Wonder of Jesus and all the God ordained circumstances that surround His birth,, all that was going on , "behind" the scenes, with Zachariah, Elizabeth, and on and on... Oh the Glory of God, and Christ and the Holy Spirit. I love Christmas as well. I have a collection of Nativity Scenes that Ive collected over the years that I love having all over my house for more than a month at Christmas time.. I love turning everything off but the lights on the tree, and the lights around my Nativity scenes and just sitting in silence pondering Luke 1 and 2. and Christ our Emmanuel, Redeemer... on another note,,, our granddaughter Ruthie Lynn was born Dec 7th, just 3 days old and absolutely precious,, she was 4 weeks early,, but doing so well, she surprises all the medical staff,,, but not me,, this little peanut has been prayed for since before conception, . She and mama and papa are home now.. Our daughter is a first time mama. So,,, its all new for her.. She is recovering from a C Section. Prayers would be treasured.... Thank you, Jamie