The real meaning of Christmas

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" which means, "God with us." Luke 1:23
Christmas is special. It is also a very difficult time for many people. In the past I too have struggled mightily at Christmas time even though I really appreciate the holiday season.
I was not raised within the church. As a child I can remember baking cookies with my mom, and singing a few simple Christmas Carols. Going out and picking a tree and making the decorations from whatever was available in the house. By the time I was 6 or 7 my dad had endured as much of Christmas as he could take and from that point on there was no more Christmas in our house.
I don't know most of the Christmas Carols that people grew up singing. I don't have any Holiday traditions. I don't even have a traditional Christmas dinner story to share with friends. But I do have a lot to celebrate at Christmas. Especially this year. I am celebrating that I CAN celebrate the birth of my Lord. Something I have missed for the past 20 years or so... and it means so much more this year than ever before. God is with us. He sent His son to live the life of a man so that we could have a human example of how we too should live. He suffered for our sake. He died for our sins. He rose to be with the father and to wait for us to join Him. How much more can we want than that.
This Christmas Eve I intend to read the story of Jesus' birth. And then to reflect on what it means to me. Christmas is personal. A time of remembrance, reflection and celebration. I will celebrate my life. My life in Christ. For without His sacrifice there can be no life. This Christmas there will be no sneaking out to go to Church. There will be no hiding in my room to read the Bible. There will be songs of joy playing on the ipod. I will sit before the lit tree and read of Jesus' birth. What a joy. What an honor to be able to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus without having to be afraid of someone seeing you celebrate it.
Christmas is not about presents and big fancy dinners and dressing up. It is about remembering that all we have is ours because God gave us His Son. Because God loved us so much that He was willing to give up so much. We give gifts to our friends and family as a reminder of the gift that God gave us. We sing songs of joy that Jesus was born to save all of us.
I am reminded that there are many others out there who want to be able to celebrate the birth of our Lord, but for whatever reason can not celebrate it in public. I will be praying for them. And celebrating their love for God. Thankful that they know in their hearts that Jesus is the reason for the season.... It's got to make you wonder....
Dear Lord, please help my friends and I to be thankful for what we have, and to realize that all that we have is Your gift to us. Please help us to remember those who love you and can not openly express that love for You. Please help those who don't know You to see how You have worked in our lives and help them to "want some of that". Please help us to not conform to the ideas of the world as we enter this holiday season, but rather help us to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season...