The cost of something is measured by your need of it.”
–Louis L’Amour (Reilly’s Luck)
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
–Luke 19:10 (NLT)
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I believe that the ones who tend to be downhearted at Christmas are those in the military who are deployed at Christmas. Duty often takes a toll on a person and it is true during Christmas time. “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” was one of those songs written for the soldier during World War II, whether he was sitting in a foxhole in the jungles of the Philippines or some island they couldn’t pronounce the name of, or in the cold, marching through France. Military personnel will be thinking of Christmas, “if only in their dreams.”
I came across an entry made in a diary written in 1861, by Robert Shaw, commander of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry. It shows the down-hearted mood of the soldiers.
“It is Christmas morning and I hope a happy and merry one for you all, though it looks so stormy for our poor country, one can hardly be in merry humor.”
(taken from Terry Tuley, Stories of Faith)
Here was a man who was letting outward circumstances and the war put him down in the dumps. However, because of Christmas, no matter where we are, shouldn’t our hearts be merry? Remember, that “merry” didn’t mean super happy, it meant strength of character, strength of body.
Showing the difference in people, another article was posted in “The Harper’s Weekly”. This was written by a soldier in 1863.
“Ought not it to be a Merry Christmas? Even with all the sorrow that hangs, and will forever hang, over so many households while war still rages; even while there are serious questions yet to be settled–ought not it to be, and is it not, a merry Christmas?”
(Terry Tuley, Stories of Faith)
Because of the birth of Jesus, every day, no matter the situation or circumstance, we can be merry. The Father sent His Son to earth to redeem mankind. What a thought! What a gift! What a cause of rejoicing and merriment!
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“It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.”
–Charles Dickens
I have heard it said that Christmas is for the kids. Possibly true to a point, but since we are all God’s children, isn’t Christmas for everyone? As was written at the top, “the cost of something is measured by your need of it,” so all of us, no exceptions anywhere were/are in need of a Savior. He gave His only begotten Son, as a gift. This gift would cost the Father the death of His Son, but it would pay the supreme price for our sins.
Another thought, that I really don’t think we ponder much. Jesus came to earth as a baby. He grew into that toddler stage, and into the primary ages and adolescence. Just like children, He had to grow. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52, NKJV)
Scripture says that Jesus had brothers (James, Jude, Simeon, Joseph) and sisters. Imagine having Jesus as a sibling. Not only was He an older brother, but He was God. No wonder they had problems believing until after the crucifixion and resurrection.