My Christmas Story Post 23
Day 23
Each year I share my personal Christmas story...
Sharing this with you, might help you to understand that I'm not some kind of Grinch that has always had a hate for Christmas. Quite the opposite, I truly loved and adored Christmas! Everyone has their own personal story in life about Christmas. This is my story….
My mother, who for the most part was a single mom, gave me many years of wonderful Christmases when I was very young. But as the years went on, she abused alcohol and we went through tough times. We were not raised with any religion either. My sister who was 10 years younger than I, was just a toddler during those times. I was only about 12 years old, when I stepped up to make sure that my sister had the best memories, at times I was the Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. I fought hard to make every year memorable for her, I thought it had to be magical like what I saw in the movies!
Now when I became a mom, I was on a mission to be the best mom ever to my children, like most moms! So, my first two children had the works. I'm talking the presents piled high under the tree (no matter how little money), going to see the Christmas lights. Santa letter, the cookies and milk, and even the carrots for the reindeer.
My love for Christmas grew and grew, until I even started creating extra traditions each year for our family. Everyone included the mailman got a basket of homemade cookies. We made homemade arts and crafts as part of our gifts to give. We had gingerbread house competitions taking place every year. You name it, we did it!
I think, I took Christmas to a different level. I mean, my kids and I were watching the Santa Claus movies by Tim Alan, throughout the year! We just wanted to live in that fantasy land of happiness, even though we loved Our Savior Jesus! I didn't see anything wrong with this.
Then my triplets were born! Christmas exploded! Wow, Christmas with three babies, it couldn't get more exciting than that, right!
So, what happened you ask! Twenty years ago, I heard a little about Christmas being created by the Roman Catholic Church and all the way back to Nimrod. But it went in one ear and out the other. Then one day, about 10 year ago, my husband came home from work, and he told me, "Did you know, that the bible speaks about the Christmas Tree?" And I looked at him and said what! He shared with me, that his friend told him in Jeremiah 10:1-5 it says to not put up a tree in your house. (Yes I know it's debatable, that Jeremiah might just be speaking of wood from the tree for idols, that's not the point right now). Anyway, let's just say, I wasn't too thrilled about hearing this. Because of my deep passion for Christmas. However, I was also not in a very strong relationship with my Savior either, I loved Him but I was weak in the faith. So again, we kinda just pushed that aside. Yet with each year, there was a conviction in my heart building.
Over the next few years, we still celebrated Christmas, just without the tree lol. Yes, I was stubborn! Four or five years ago, my daughter, 19 at the time, decided to do a deep study on the origins of Christmas. And Wow, The Father opened our eyes to see many things! We were blown away at how we have been so deceived all these years. So, I started studying for my own self. First the story of Jesus' birth was distorted, then finding out that Pope Julius I declared Jesus' birth on Dec 25th, to finding out about the pagan connections, then taking a good look into who this santa character represented, and it just kept going deeper and deeper. So, you can say that Jerm 10:1-5 is not about the 'Christmas' tree, BUT, I know that the Father used it to get our attention.
So what is the point of sharing all of this with you. I want you to know, that I was once celebrating Christmas just as you are. And I know that it is a Holiday that is packed with emotions! As many wonderful and joyous memories, it brings, it also brings the burden of stress and worry that many overlook for the happiness of others. And I also understand much good is done during this time.
But as Believers in The Heavenly Holy Father, what are we doing? Have we been deceived? Is this all a spiritual snare? Is this even really a big deal? My answer to those questions is, Yes! However, I can say yes, only, because I've taken the hours upon hours to study it out for my own self with sincere prayer before the Father. And with each year, He still continues to reveal more deceptions of this day to me.
You see, to me, when you start to unlock the deception of something like Christmas, then you start looking at your world with different eyes! I'm on the search for truth. And I will not stop studying and learning all that I can about my Savior and the will of The Father in Heaven. Because at the end of the day, everything is about HIM! Please understand this is simply my perspective and I don't pass judgement of any kind on anyone!
Well, if you made it this far, I thank you for reading my story. And I hope it was a blessing. May you be encouraged to seek the Father with all your heart soul and mind, no matter how you feel about Christmas. Much love to you all! AND if you feel led to share your story as well, please do in the comments! It's encouraging to others.
Remember this beautiful verse.... "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth". 3 John 1:4 He is beyond gracious to reveal it to us, but do we want it, is the question!
Much Love!
