For fourteen years, I was held by the chains of addiction, now to find the true meaning of Christmas.
In those days, Christmas at our house had nothing to do with the celebration of the birth of Jesus He was never even mentioned! I always got excited about decorating the trees and buying gifts, but had no desire to read the Christmas Story or try to teach my children what the true meaning of Christmas was; fact is I did not know myself.
This is my third Christmas to be drug free and I have to tell you it is a very different experience. Now that I am a Christian, I have come to love the Christmas story from the Bible and I want my children to understand Christmas is not about how many presents there are under the tree, it is about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
It's not easy to change past Christmas tradition or any holiday tradition for that matter, after being unleashed from an addiction. So many things have changed. My first Christmas didn't feel normal at all. I had been clean for 10 months. I got custody of my children back just weeks before Christmas, so it was hard on the entire family; I did a lot of praying.
Not only was I thinking with a clear head, but my heart had also changed. Now, Christmas was about Jesus and not presents. How could I balance the two? When your kids are used to focusing on one thing, then all of a sudden, you try to teach them to focus on another, it's confusing.
Well this is our third Christmas and it's getting easier. We attended a production at our church just last night called The Gift. It tells the story of the life of Christ. I plan to read the Christmas story out of Luke 2 to the kids more than once during the next few weeks. I would like to share it with you.
Luke 2:8-14 (KJV) 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
This is how I rekindle the true meaning of Christmas in my heart! I read scriptures, about God sending His Son to die on the cross for my sins, simply reading helps keep me in check.
John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I encourage you to share this with your family; and especially if they do not know Christ, it could be the turning point of their lives. Then stand strong in what you believe and do not allow outsiders or Satan to distract you from the true meaning of Christmas.
Becky's Key for the Week: You can still get excited over decorating the tree. You can still buy presents. Just don't forget the gift God gave you. And most importantly, don't forget the true meaning of Christmas.