just the beginning

This has been such a growing year for me.
And I have felt the changes down deep inside, most itensely at the holidays.
Easter.
Thanksgiving
And now Christmas.

No doubt, I have always understood why we celebrate Christmas.
But this year I am understanding it more than ever in my heart.
That just seems to be what's going on with me this year.
Learning.
Reflection.
New Understanding.

My heart has been so heavy over the last few days. It aches and bursts with joy and happiness all at the same time. I have struggled more than ever this year as I have watched those close to me and those all around ALL of us experience pain and dissappointment and tough times.

But yet my heart is joyful. I am thankful. I am blessed. And even though my heart may ache for so many reasons, I look around and can't help but see MORE THAN EVER just how GOOD our God is.

I've spent some time over the last few days trying to reflect and really think about this holiday. And I mean think about it like I have never thought about it before.

It's easy to know the story of Jesus's birth, believe in it, celebrate it, but not TRULY TRULY understand it's worth. Truly understand it's capacity and meaning.

I clicked over to a blog last night, and was skimming over the 212 comments left in reponse to the question "How do you handle Santa at your house?" Dave and I have had some great conversations about this at our house in the past week so I was some-what interested in hearing what others were saying.

After reading many comments, I came to one that was written by someone that seemed to have gotten a little off topic, but it started a WHOLE realm of additional comments. This commenter stated that NO WHERE in the bible does God command us to celebrate his birth. There was a lot said by this commenter, but long story short - they don't celebrate Christmas because we are NOT suppossed to celebrate the birth of Jesus but rather his death and resurrection.

I'm sure you can only imagine the comments that were posted in response to this.

It just got me thinking about this birth that we celebrate.
It's a birthday. It's about a little baby.
And I really do think that there are people all over the place that DO remember this story when they celebrate Christmas. Christians or not. And for some, it may just do it because "that's just what we're suppossed to do". Even if it's just for a mere 2 minutes among all the hustle and bustle. But that's it. That's the extent of the celebration and THAT BABY is the only thing remembered.

So this Christmas, I am DEFINITELY celebrating that birth.
But I am looking beyond.
Because as much as we can say "it's not about the presents, it's not about Santa"
I think we should also realize that it's not just about the manger or the sheperds or the the angel or wisemen.

It's about a birth.
That led to a cross.
And it's about an empty tomb.
It's about my sin.
It's about this world that is lost.

Jesus was born on this earth
so that we may be born again.
And have eternal life.

It's about the gift.
The one that costs us nothing.
But cost Him everything.

The birth was just the beginning.
But the real celebration is the rest of the story.
And the rest can't happen without the beginning.
That is definitely worthy of a great big birthday bash!
And definitely worth our focus among all the other things this season brings.

I love how this video just brings it all together.