Christian Comment

You may be surprised to read that in a Christian comment column, but I believe it is high time Christians stopped trying to re-claim Christmas. Because everyone needs Christmas and almost everyone loves Christmas.

Christians may claim to know what Christmas is for, but the only person who knows what your Christmas is for is you. And I am the last person to tell you what Christmas is for you. But I hope you won’t mind my having a guess.

You may be looking forward to getting the family together — great fun, especially if the children haven’t yet become bored teenagers. On the other hand, for you, family would be simply an intrusion on your peaceful solitary Christmas.

Then again, your Christmas may be for eating and drinking — also great fun. Until you’ve had just a bit too much of both! And let’s always keep in mind the people in our town who have very little in their purse or wallet and for whom this could be a pretty desolate Christmas.

Or — the important thing about Christmas may simply being with the one person you love and that is great. But for some this will be your first Christmas without that person and, even if you are surrounded by a loving family or very good friends, it may seem very empty indeed.

So, each of us has a pretty good idea of what Christmas is — or should be. And if it turns out the way you want, that is great. But if it does not live up to expectations, you can be in for a pretty miserable time. If that’s so for you, I hope you know that someone is thinking of you — the writer of this column certainly is, even though I don’t know you.

This wouldn’t be a Christian column if I didn’t mention Church, so if Church is anywhere on your radar, Christmas Eve or Christmas morning would be a great time to be there. To celebrate — or simply to find a glimmer of hope.

David Read, retired Methodist Minister.