We wanted to take a few moments to wish each one of you the most Merry Christmas you have ever had.
You know it is interesting that the only time of year and the only holiday where we used the word “merry” is for Christmas. It caused me to pause and look up what “merry” really means. It literally means “cheerful and lively” according to the Oxford dictionary. To break it down further, the word “cheerful” means “noticeably happy and optimistic” and the word “lively” means “full of life and energy; active and outgoing”. So, “merry” means to be “noticeably happy and optimistic + full of life and energy; active and outgoing”.
That one word packs a lot of meaning! When you combine it with the word Christmas, which we can define as “the celebration of Jesus’ birth” to keep it simple, we technically just wished you the most noticeably happy and optimistic + full of life and energy; active and outgoing celebration of Jesus’ birth that you have ever had.
That’s a mouthful for sure and a tall order! 🙂
But…take a minute and read the words. Noticeably happy…noticeably optimistic…full of life…full of energy…active…outgoing…celebration…
Then ask yourself if these words describe you right now as you get ready to celebrate such a world changing event.
Let’s challenge ourselves to set aside a couple minutes before we go on with our day today – before we hop in the car; prepare our house for family and friends; cook some good food/desert; finish our last minute shopping; start our work day; whatever our situation may be … Set aside a couple minutes to (1) thank God for another opportunity to celebrate the birth of His Son and (2) ask Him to make us “merry” and to let our “merry” overflow.
Amazing things happen when we truly engage in the “merry” of Merry Christmas. In 1914 in the midst of one of the most bloody wars in history – WWI – there was a Christmas truce. The truce began when German soldiers made a choice to be “Merry”…
They actually sang Christmas carols from within their trenches and decorated their fighting positions with decorations on Christmas Eve. They chose to be noticeably happy and optimistic…full of life and energy. Then at the first light of dawn on Christmas Day, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied (British, French, etc.) lines across no-man’s-land, calling out “Merry Christmas” in their enemies’ native tongues. They chose to be active, outgoing.
At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang carols and songs. There was even a documented case of soldiers from opposing sides playing a good-natured game of soccer. They chose to celebrate.
Even one of the bloodiest wars in history couldn’t stop the power of a true “Merry Christmas”.
However, it is important to note that the German soldiers and the Allied troops had to make a choice – engage with God and each other, or not. They were not waiting for a feeling. They took action. The Bible says that the fruits of the Spirit are lots of awesome things – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control (Galations 5:22-23). In order to enjoy that fruit Paul tells us in verse 16 of the same chapter that we have to choose to ‘walk in the Spirit’…it’s a choice. Put another way – we have to engage with God. Just like the Germans had to choose to get up and walk over to the Allies and engage with them.
As you remember Christ’s birth consider it an opportunity for vertical (with God) and horizontal (with people) engagement. Make the choice to engage in the “merry” as you celebrate how Christ engaged in humanity for you…you never know the impact you might have. Remember – you are His method.
Love,
Pastor Mike and Genevieve