The True Meaning of Christmas

It’s finally Christmas day in our side of the world. While the kids and hubby are fast asleep, I type away the thoughts that come to my head.

What for you is the true meaning of Christmas?

We’ve watched several movies and cartoons about the birth of Jesus (the “Beginner’s Bible” cartoons on the birth and life of Christ, “The Visual Bible” series and “Veggietales”, to name a few). We’ve done the usual Christmas arts and crafts like this angel craft from her lessons from BJU.

We’ve made greeting cards.

We studied the events leading to that most glorious day in the manger in the little town of Bethlehem in our Sunday school.

My hubby and daughter even got to be part of a Christmas play in our church (my baby girl is the pretty little angel in the middle).

Of course, there was the usual gift-giving and feasting and merry-making. Our Christmas eve was spent with our church family eating good food and enjoying the fellowship with one another.

After all the celebration is done, we go home and my I tell my kid to paint whatever she wants to show me what Christmas is for her. She goes to work and presents me and her dad with this:

Puzzled, I ask her what she meant by “God is daed for born.”

She explained that Jesus died, was in the cave 3 days and 3 nights, and then was alive again. (An “Aaaaah! Okaaay!” moment). She may have gotten her spelling a little mixed up (“daed” for “died”) and her choice of words not very clear (“born” meaning “resurrected”), but as I reflected on this, it dawned on me that my 4 1/2 year old daughter actually bull’s-eyed the true meaning of Christmas. Hallelujah!

For indeed today, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but that birth would not have served its purpose unless Christ died and lived again. For we are saved not by His coming as a little infant but by His sacrifice on the cross to redeem us from sin and open the way for us to be reconciled to the Father.

I thank the Lord for touching my little girl’s heart with this message and for reminding me of this truth as well.

Happy happy birthday dear Jesus! Thank You for coming to save us! May we always remember that even during Christmas, the message of the cross is as alive as ever. To You be all the glory and praise!