Christmas, A Child, and Good News

Tatiana

7 years ago

At Christmas, we celebrate the story of a child, and good news, Yet most of the words we associate with Christmas (lights, bells, snow, decorations, trees, garlands, candy canes, stockings, Santa, shopping, etc.), have nothing to do with it. Christmas is a time of giving, a time of joy, a time of togetherness.

However, it’s also a time of stress, worry, disappointment, and feelings of inadequacy.

At least, for those whose focus is not on Christ.

Is Christ at the center of your Christmas?

Let me share a personal Christmas story with you today.

Eight years ago, I received a voicemail from my daughter’s teacher, asking me to come in and see her before the Christmas break. My sweet little third grader was in trouble. There had been a parent complaint. Puzzled, I called the teacher back and asked what the trouble was, but she insisted on me coming in. There was an unacceptable item she needed to return to me.

My mind started racing, trying to think of what this unacceptable item could be. We’re not the type of people to keep unacceptable items in our home. Much less anywhere the kids might find them.

I left work early and met the teacher during recess. As I walked towards her, I recognized something on her desk. It was my old, worn out Bible. Surely, this couldn’t be the unacceptable item, could it?

After an awkward greeting, she began to explain school and district policy, about religious paraphernalia and the ‘separation of church and state’.

The problem?

In her excitement for the Christmas season, a child shared the good news of Jesus’ birth with her classmates. One girl in particular, became very interested and asked several questions. My daughter offered her a Bible so she could read the story for herself. When her classmate took the Bible home, her father became irate, and took his frustration on the school’s administration.