I think… YES!
Why? Because we’re winning… BIGLY!
It seems like at every turn we’re winning. Many have suffered in this war, many tragic episodes. Unfortunately, real war takes much.
The reason I’m posting this is because many of us know that tomorrow isn’t Jesus’ birthday. It feels a bit hollow knowing that.
BUT, why not blaze a path towards true understanding? Just try again.
To be honest, I don’t worry much about when it happened, as much as the fact that it DID happen. I believe that God became man and His sacrifice on the Cross and His blood are what matter most. What saves us.
Do I believe that the Son of God was born on 12/25? Nah, don’t. But if we can humble ourselves and try to love them, maybe we can heal faster. I don’t know, but I hope.
We’re winning. Let’s Celebrate the Love of Christ.
https://greatawakening.win/p/19A0yDrIgQ/x/c/4ZHkHvGgI4e
I’m putting this comment over here, rather than there, specifically to hopefully keep other eyes off of it. (So as to not be Debbie Downer)
One of the hardest things there is to do is to point out things like this in love…
It can be hard enough to realize them, but much harder to communicate them where they can be heard.
I enjoyed Santa Claus growing up, knowing from a very young age that he didn’t exist, because we didn’t even have a chimney, come on, pull the other leg, but meant I woke up to a load of new toys that I got to pick out and order, and even with being dumb enough to open my mouth about it, my parents kept getting me cool new stuff every year anyway.
My cousins either did believe in Santa or pretended they did for the fringe benefits into their adulthoods. Was an absolutely untouchable thing for them.
Other children, people I’ve known, will find out Santa isn’t real, ask “what else did you lie to me about? Where is your evidence that Jesus is real, you liar?” then spend 10, 20, 30 years… or a lifetime… wandering in the desert in rejection of salvation and righteousness.
Because of a “fun story”.
We can point things out like this with our families, and endure the fracturing and heartbreak it does and will create, but is there a better way?
How do we break through the lies in love?
How do we break through the genuine, heartfelt, warm feelings we had as children to get through to the truth?
I know this, I’d sooner try to eat a live cat than kick off a comment to joys1daughter with the sentence “Santa is evil!” after she just merrily posted the Santa NORAD tracker…
Father, we are a stiff-necked people, and there are so many lies, and we are so prone to error, please have mercy on us.
Be blessed and welcome, u/GaetzIsInnocent
I don’t know how we do those things fren. I struggle all the time with “knowing” that what we have been told are lies. (I’m not saying I know all the truths either, but like most here I’m constantly looking for them).
All I’m saying is to meet “them” (friends and family) where they are now. They need love and understanding even if many don’t deserve it.
I cringe at the spells put on people, but I believe that God (with our help) can change many of them. The truth will be waiting for them in bite size morsels.
Thanks for the thoughtful post.
St. Nicholas was actually real but nothing in the way like Santa Claus is portrayed. Yes he left food items in the shoes of those in need because in that time, people actually left their shoes outside by the door. We have a pastor that talks a good bit about the real "St. Nick" at Christmastime which is pretty interesting.
Sometimes it feels like Christmas is no different than a facebook post where some people feel really good about themselves while others are left feeling not so good about themselves.
When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, Christmas became almost meaningless to me. Easter has become more important but not in the typical way. For me, were it not for Easter, then all is in vain. (My apologies for going all Ecclesiastes here).