Are We Missing the Greatest Gift Amid the Christmas Magic?

It was the first time I sat down all day. I was tired but quite proud of myself for accomplishing everything on my kids’ bucket list for their day off from school. We had a slow morning, played outside, ate sugar cookies, watched a Christmas movie (well, they watched it while I restrung all the Christmas lights on our pre-lit tree that no longer works), we hung the ornaments, and decorated with garland, wreaths, and burgundy velvet bows… The family room was picture perfect, if I do say so myself.

Everyone had eaten dinner, taken showers, brushed their teeth, and was ready for bed. But first, we needed to practice a little reading to check off another item on my mommy-do list. So, I had my 8-year-old grab the Jesus Storybook Bible from the shelf and told him to pick out a story to read aloud.

He picked the tower of Babel, which I felt was a severely missed opportunity considering we were surrounded by Christmas magic. But I was feeling like mom of the year, so I decided to let that go. I was here to enjoy the ambiance of the room anyway… And now, with the darkness of night settling over us, I could really soak in the beauty of it all with twinkling lights all around us. It really was magnificent.

A Story That Stopped Me In My Tracks

All the sudden, the hazy words in the background broke through the hygge in the room that had enveloped me, and my son’s voice rang clear:

“So they got to work. Brick by brick, the tower grew, higher and higher, until it’s soared above the city, touching the sky. They built stairs in the tower to climb to the top. It was like a giant staircase to heaven.

‘Look!’ they cheered. ‘We’re the ones! See what we can do with our very own hands!’ they were quite pleased with themselves.

But God wasn’t pleased with them. God could see what they were doing. They were trying to live without him, but God knew that wouldn’t make them happy or safe or anything. If they kept on like this, they would only destroy themselves, and God loved them too much to let that happen so he stopped their plans.”

In the most kind way possible, I realized God was pressing on my heart. A little embarrassed, I took my eyes off of my handiwork and started reading along, listening closer. What was he trying to tell me?

My son continued…

“You see, God knew, however high they reached, however hard they tried, people could never get back to heaven by themselves. People didn’t need a staircase; they needed a Rescuer. Because the way back to heaven wasn’t a staircase; it was a Person.

People could never reach up to Heaven, so Heaven would have to come down to them. And, one day, it would.”
Isn’t it just like God to use the most obscure story in the Bible (in my humble opinion) to remind me of the true beauty of Christmas?

And I realized, sheepishly, that the one item I had not crossed off from our day-off wishlist was reading the children’s Advent lesson and doing the corresponding activity that our church provided. They had it all prepped in a bag for me, but I just hadn’t opened it. What a striking epiphany of how often I miss the gift of God—namely, Himself—simply because I don’t open the present.

Who (or What) Are You Making Christmas About?

Instead, how quickly and easily I make Christmas about me. About making it special for my kids. I started to consider how I’ve done this very thing so many times during the Christmas seasons past… I get swept up in “making the magic” and miss so many opportunities to dwell in the true meaning. I am so prone to forgetting it’s not what I do (or don’t do) that makes Christmas special. It’s not the decorations, the cozy family nights, or the perfect wow-gift under the tree…

It’s Him. The Prince of Peace, who was reigning as King even as He allowed Himself to lie in a manger. It’s Christ, the child who was born as a fulfillment of God’s promise to us in the very beginning—the first time we decided to treasure the splendor over the Splendid (Genesis 3).

And what on earth could I think would possibly fill my children’s hearts—my heart—with more awe and wonder than taking the time to remember who He is? He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Every time I read that verse, Isaiah 9:6, I choke up.

He is magnificent.

And He came for me. For you. For all who believe.

Don’t Let the Christmas Magic Distract from the Greatest Gift

Because He doesn’t want us to gorge ourselves on the things of the world and go to bed starving. He wants to be our living Bread and fill us until we are satisfied and overflowing with hope, joy, peace, and abundant, everlasting life. I just need to open the bag.

By God’s unrelenting grace, I don’t want Christmas without Him. And, more than anything, that is what I want to give my kids: Repeated opportunities to hear this beautiful story of good news.

Thank you, Lord, for your kindness that leads us to repentance, and, ultimately, back to You.

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The Christmas season can get busy, pulling our attention every way but toward Jesus. Here’s how to refocus on Him this Christmas: How to See Christ in the Christmas Chaos