How to Overcome Christmas Expectations

I know, blasphemy, right?

I am just being honest.

It used to start the first week of December.  The tree would come out of storage (I had an artificial tree because I was single and me cutting down a real tree, carrying it on the top of my car, and then dragging it into my apartment was not a choice), and the decorating would begin, along with some baking and writing out a few Christmas cards.  Except that I never could seem to get those cards written.   Instead they turned into Happy New Year’s cards.

Then it moved up to the weekend after Thanksgiving because starting the first week of December was way too late.  If I waited until then there was no point of even putting up a tree.  And who wants the chore of writing out cards lingering days before Christmas?  Starting early would help me get everything done and enjoy it for once.

This year my tree is already up.  And it has been up since November 19^th.  Part of the reason is because I want it up before my mission trip to Burkina Faso.  Otherwise I will be back to where I was a few years ago – writing out cards on Christmas Eve.    

Last week I had some ladies from my small group over, and the minute they walked in I started explaining why I already had the house decorated.  I was embarrassed to have started so early. 

Until I saw twinkling lights shining brightly on another house in our neighborhood.  Along with their tree – fully decorated in the middle of the window – just as big and beautiful as could be.  So I wasn’t the only one to have a tree up on November 19^th. I possibly wasn’t even the first one.

I want to blame it on our culture, and culture probably contributes greatly, but really I need to reflect on why I am doing what I’m doing at Christmas, and who I am doing it for.

Christmas is a birthday party.  But not just any birthday party – the grandest of grand birthday parties.  It is a birthday party for a King.  A King who became the neediest of human existence – a tiny infant – then grew up to be the most lowly – a perfect servant – who died a sinner’s death. 

If Jesus was here with me right now, in the flesh, and December 25^th was his birthday, what kind of party would I give him?  What kind of party would my heart yearn to give him?  When would I start preparing? 

That is what I am doing.  I am preparing for a Birthday Party.  And when my mind focuses on Christmas as just that I am able to take my expectations for myself and for others and put them back on Jesus.

Christmas is not just for me and my family.  It is a Birthday Party for Jesus.  He is the honored guest.