Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God evermore
Good news, great joy for all
Melody breaks through the silence
Christ, the Savior is born!
Jesus, the love song of God!
Jesus, the love song of God!
Chris Tomlin, Midnight Clear (Love Song)
I’m paying for a small purchase in the, surprisingly, quiet store. The salesclerk is chatty as she rings up my purchase. I’m inserting my card in the machine to pay when she says: “I heard that they’re trying to ban candy canes now”.
Okay, I’ll bite.
”Candy canes? Why?
I’m not sure who “they” are, but whoever they are, they’ve apparently taken offence at candy canes for a reason that’s beyond absurd. I shake my head, we toss comments around about how ridiculous it is, and I leave. I’m almost at my car when I think of what I wish I’d said instead.
It doesn’t matter, I should have said. There’s always going to be something, and there’s always going to be someone who finds something to protest about decorations, Christmas carols, and, apparently, even candy canes. We shouldn’t be surprised that darkness pushes back against the light.
Let’s not take offence at the offences. Let’s not give them any airplay.
Instead, let’s focus our attention on the heavens. As we wait in this season of Advent, and as we celebrate Christmas, let’s let goodwill and peace reign. Let’s let the Christmas lights remind us of the Father of lights. Let’s rejoice as they shine bright, every one a facet of this weary world rejoicing. Let’s wait, with hope, on the One who once came as a babe in a manger, and who will, one day, come again as King.
Those other nonsensical things are not worth our attention.
Let’s light a candle, lift our eyes, and let the wonder of the season fill us with joy as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour: Emmanuel, God with us. Let’s worship the Father who sent him. He loves us more than our human hearts can fathom—so much that He sent his Son to tell us, and that was just the beginning of the length He was willing to go through for us.
Merry Christmas, I should have said (I did say, we both did). Good news, great joy, we are celebrating Jesus, the love song of God.
That’s all that matters.
Amen!