The Shout of Christmas

Christmas began in a whisper but now comes with a shout. Jesus’ entrance into our world was quiet and unassuming. The Almighty emptied Himself of glory to be born in a manger. It would have gone unnoticed if it weren’t for the announcement to shepherds.

Now Christmas comes with a Shout. I’m not referring to the pre-November commercial build-up to the season. And I am not referring to the madness of trying to do all we do each year. The shout of Christmas is different. Christmas shouts to us as we count the years by its passing.

The wonder of childhood Christmases gives way to the polite co-operation of teen years. Those pass into homecoming Christmases with the return of college students. Morphed again Christmas is expanded as new young families are united and daughters and sons-in-law are welcomed into the celebration.
The arrival of grandchildren changes it all again. We watch the cycle repeat as the new little ones grow. Through-out each of these changes Christmas shouts to us.

Our years are passing. The days are fleeting. Things will change, the nest will empty, and the celebration will evolve. We cannot stop the passage of time and each Christmas reminds us of another year passed. It shouts to us of our mortality.

Yet in the midst of this defining event, on our annual calendar a clarion call is heard. It rings forth year after year. Hear it now as you celebrate the season. It is a simple message that reminds us of one amazing thing year after year.

“God so loved the world. . .”

Hear the shout.

“God so loved. . .”