Peace at Christmas

What is Christmas to you? Is it buying presents for others? Is it a time to visit family and friends? Often holidays can be quite a burden on many of us. Sometimes it can bring up very unhappy memories we would like to forget.

I use to have a hard time during the Christmas season. Often I would get sick. However as I prayed about this I began to realize that Christmas is about celebrating the life of Jesus. As I began to focus on the life of Jesus instead of unhappy memories my Christmases have been happier ones.

Three things that stand out to me are:

1. Light. Jesus is the light that was brought to end the darkness in the world. How did he do this? By the life that he lived. He showed man that there was a better way to live. Instead of hating we can love. Instead of suffering with disease we can be made well. Instead of a life of fear and doubt we can have happiness and certainty. Every where Jesus went things changed for the better. He said we can also let our lives be a light to others by living what he taught.

2. Wonderful Councilor. How did Jesus council us. He did it with his teachings. His Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5-7 is a guide to live our lives. The guide says how we can be blessed and how we can pray for ourselves and the world.

3. Prince of Peace. How was Jesus a prince of peace? He brought peace to his disciples when he quieted a violent storm while they were at sea. He brought peace to a woman whose only son had died. He was her means of support. He healed her son. He brought peace to a man who was very troubled by many demons. Jesus healed the man of his insanity and we are told the man sat at Jesus feet clothed and in his right mind.

This holiday season you can have peace. Jesus left us this peace by the life he lived and taught us to follow. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Matt 14:27)