I feel heartsick and a bit nauseous every time I see a
certain ad playing this season. A
beautiful and smartly dressed woman is shown shopping for, wrapping, and giving
presents. The closing line of the ad is “Christmas
accomplished.” I am sickened because it
trivializes the true accomplishment of Christmas.
I am not opposed to gift giving. I have spent a lot of time over the past few
weeks searching for items online and in stores.
I will spend time wrapping the gifts, mailing some to family out of
town, and giving others during family occasions over the holidays. I genuinely enjoy trying to find items that
are needed or wanted. I particularly
delight in fulfilling the wishes of grandchildren (one of whom has bubble wrap
on her wish list). But, I am very clear,
that is not the purpose of Christmas. When
all the gifts are purchased, wrapped and given, Christmas will NOT be
accomplished.
Christmas was God’s accomplishment. The Creator and Sustainer of the Universe,
the One who is infinitely wise, loved us frail and flawed human beings so much,
that He was willing to become one of us in order to reconcile us to
Himself. The greatest accomplishment of
any human being does not match that. The
sum total of the accomplishments of ALL human beings is nothing in comparison. This is a mystery beyond the comprehension of
the human mind. “The Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us.” (John
1:14)
The angels understood the significance and filled the skies
with joyful singing. Glory to God in the highest! The shepherds, although not totally
understanding, had enough of an inkling, that they traveled through the
darkness to a stable where they knelt in awe.
The Magi traveled a great distance to bring gifts to someone they
believed to be a mighty king. Even Mary couldn’t
quite wrap her mind around the event and pondered these things in her heart.
So…T J Maxx…your pretty lady has NOT accomplished
Christmas.
“God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
God gave the gift we all need.
He accomplished Christmas!
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (II Corinthians 9:15)
