Joy of Christmas and Pain of Newtown

I am sure that most of us experienced some pretty raw emotions yesterday at church.  Between the anticipation of Christmas and the horrific fresh memories of what took place in Connecticut, if your Sunday was like mine it was one big emotional roller coaster. 

Our Adult Sunday School class took a name and prayed for each of the families of the children that were killed.  Many of us (men included) got pretty emotional and could not even finish praying.  It was obvious that we were identifying the pain with the loss of our own children, grandchildren or other young innocent lives that we love.  There were very few dry eyes when the prayer time was over.  

What took place last week made each of us increase in our appreciation and love our children, grandchildren and every child that God has brought into our lives.

And then we went to church and our pastor spoke about the Babe in a manager and we sang songs about the gift of the Christ Child.  Songs with words like “Unto us a Child is born; Unto us a Son is given” reminded us of another child that was born over 2000 years ago.  We were quickly reminded that not only are we blessed with the gift of the young children in our lives, but also the Christ Child born in a manager in Bethlehem. 

This gift of Christ was given by God the Father, knowing that the His Son would die on a cross so that we could have a personal relationship with Him.  With all the horror that we saw in Connecticut we need to remember that the purpose of the birth of Christ was the horror of His death on the cross.   

As horrible as what took place in Connecticut last week, could we use that tragedy to refocus our attention this Christmas? 

I trust you will join me in prying ourselves away from the shallow commercialism of Christmas and refocus on what is important.  This Christmas, let us hug our children just a little tighter and let them know that we love them.  

And as we enjoy the Christmas programs in our church let us not forget the reason for His birth.  In that glorious story of the Virgin birth is the truth that Christ was born to die so that that we might have eternal life. Matthew 20:28.  If it weren’t for horrific events on Calvary, the purpose of what took place in Bethlehem would remain unfilled. 

As we grieve with those in Connecticut this Christmas, don’t forget to love our children and appreciate what Christ willfully accepted that day in a manager in Bethlehem.

May each of you have a Blessed and wonderful Christmas.