The Point

Originally Posted 12/25/07

Life just doesn't get much better than this. I'm sitting on my couch, wrapped up in a quilt that was lovingly made by my Mama, watching M*A*S*H. My dog, Hawkeye (named after Hawkeye Pierce, of course), is laying in the next seat, having just turned his customary circles before going to sleep. This is takes some balance and coordination in a rocker-recliner. Just one of the things that makes Hawkeye such a magnificent animal. Meanwhile in Korea, Hawkeye & B.J. just filled Hotlips' pillow with chocolate pudding, and Radar is mailing a Jeep home in pieces. Comedy just doesn't get much better than that. I thinking earlier today about the tradition of the American Christmas. The adults spends literally months buying & hiding, and then wrapping presents. More days are spent decorating anything that will stand still. We spend days preparing a feast. Then in a few short hours, Christmas is over for another year. Is all this preparation worth it? Absolutely. Not because of the sweet faces of my children when they come into the room on Christmas morning, although that is a great blessing indeed. It is because Christmas represents the eternal. All of the symbols of Christmas-the tree, the candy cane, the poinsettia, the gifts-all point to Jesus. The fact that Jesus would be willing to leave Heaven, lower Himself & live among us is astounding. The fact that He would be willing to restrain His power while He suffered and died a horrible death is even more astounding. But the most astounding fact is that He did all this, even conquering death, just so we could live with Him forever! How amazing is that?!? This is why Christmas is so important. Not because of "Black Friday", filling stockings, or sampling desserts. The purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth, life, death & resurrection of the most important man in human history. If we don't get that, then Christmas is....well, quite pointless.