The sights and signs of Christmas approaching are all around us. We see it in the stores, as their displays and catalogues brim to almost overflowing with the novelties for this year’s festivities. Christmas cards and gifts are filling up the shelves. Christmas cakes are being baked while plans are being made to rearrange the house in order to fit the Christmas tree. Christmas wish lists are being drawn up and excitedly passed to and fro.

The surprising ability of gift matching becomes a common trait as the corresponding gifts and names are being burned into minds as groundwork for the quest to obtain that right gift. The streets light up with its decorations and emerging provisions for oncoming snow. And, of course, The Salvation Army begins its kettle campaign. Plans and preparations are being made as the season of Christmas quickly approaches once again. And once again the attitude of Christmas embracers switches more and more from self to others. It becomes the season of peace, joy, and goodwill to all.

I’m sure, as with many people, along with the signs of an approaching Christmas comes the drawing up of the ‘friend list’. Whether physically or mentally, that list continues to grow as we remember. Fond memories warm hearts with the joy of relationship. Soon the pen stroke glows with loving additions. Family, friends, acquaintances, and neighbors begin to take shape on that list. It is a list where we want no one to be forgotten or overlooked. It is not a list of naughty and nice but rather a list of whom we want to give a gift, card, or acknowledgement to. It is not about what we may get, or the worthiness of each who may receive from us, but rather it is about those to whom we wish to give to. It is not focused on us at all whether as giver or receiver but rather the focus is on others that they may receive and with it joy, peace, and goodwill. It is a rare moment for many of us, indeed.

Would it not spark life, ignite joy, light hope to know that we are remembered. Our name is known by another and written on their list, that they thought about me and engraved my name upon their mind and heart. But for some, Christmas is a heart-wrenching, despairing, painful time. There may be the glimpse of light but it is overcome by anger, bitterness, or resentment. Circumstances are bleak, memories are dark, and relationship holds no candle. Worse of all is the oppression that they may be forgotten, maybe this year, maybe once again.

Where does hope come from? For some there is no release for they are blinded by notions of their own worthlessness - a junk pile of mutated, degenerated DNA randomly and accidentally joined together to make yet another organism of the human species, one more among millions, overlooked, forgotten, unloved. Time becomes the abrasion that grinds each organism back to nonexistence - release from the chains of mundane coexistence.

However, for those who see the true reason of Christmas, there is hope. It is not the dust, nor even the breath that brought original life, but rather the Creator who created life - who created me, you, and us. Think how the DNA was individually chosen, carefully molded together, and given the ability needed to form each one of us. The Creator knows each one of us. He watched over us and lingered with joy as each one of us was uniquely fashioned within our mother’s womb according to His set precepts.

Christmas shows us that there is good news for all people, whether or not they are remembered or forgotten by humanity. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” [Luke 2:8-12 NIV]

God remembered us. He came to us. He dwelt among us as God with us - in the flesh. He came the way of humanity - a baby - born of a mother’s womb. Almighty God as a delicate, helpless baby who too had to grow in stature and wisdom while in the care of human parents.

The reason of Christmas is not so much that we might receive, or understand, or be enlightened, or become worthy, or learn to give or be nice, - but rather it is about God - that He may give. His love was so great for us that He gave - He gave Himself that we may be reconciled, redeemed, and restored to our first loved. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” [John 1:12-13 NIV] He wants us to know and have life, not just eternity, but here and now, abundantly. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” [John 10:10 NIV]

He remembered each one of us this past Christmas, Christmases before that, and again this Christmas. Our names were and are written upon His ‘friend list’. He desires to give us the best gift He can, not because we deserve it, or have earned it in any way, or because we made it on some nice list somehow, but just because He really wants to.

“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” [John 20:30-31 NIV]

by Captain Tim Jenkins

This article first appeared in the Kirkland Lake Northern News