When I look at my Boston Terrier puppy and Yellow Lab, I think often of Spike and Chester. Many of you are not old enough to remember Spike and Chester. Spike was the big, jock, somewhat dull bulldog and Chester was the hyper, really smart dog. Chester would jump around constantly asking Spike, "What're we going to do today, Spike, huh, huh?"
My Boston Terrier is the same way. He is perfectly calm and will just lay there while you pet him. That is, until my Lab enters the room. Then he is jumping and nipping trying to make the Lab wrestle with him. Funny thing. Just like in Spike and Chester, he eventually gets my Lab to do exactly what he wants her to do even though she knows they will both receive correction for wrestling in the house.
This time of year, I am like that. Like Spike, I am determined that this year will be different and I keep the real meaning of Christmas before me all through the season. But, like Chester, the commercialism of Christmas is jumping at me and nipping me as I try to walk the right path to Christmas. It jumps at me twenty-four hours, seven days a week. Buy this, watch that, can't do without this, get ready for the parties that so typify this season.
Sooner or later, just like Spike and my Lab, I stray from what I know is right and follow the smaller dog (idea) of Christmas. After all, all the commercial trappings of Christmas tends to make for a very shallow holiday. Only in the Biblical message of Christmas do we find anything that will sustain us for the rest of the year. Jesus told us, "I am the Way; and the Truth; and the Life...."
So, to keep me focused, here is the traditional Christmas story from Luke 2:
"Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinus was governor of Syria. And all were proceeding to register for the census to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was with child. And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them;and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for YOU a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'" (emphasis mine)
I know there is more to the story but that last sentence is the real reason for the season. That God sent to you and to me, a "Savior that is Christ the Lord" . Without Him there would be no meaning to Christmas.
I am going to try to blog about all the people involved in the birth of our Lord between now and Christmas. Each person played an important role in fulfilling the prophecies of the Messiah.
Now if I can just stay focused what is right and ignore that little dog of commercialism that is jumping in my face and nipping me trying to get me to ignore the real reason for the season.
