More than a Story!

Christmas is a beautiful thing. We hang decorations all around us. Tinsel and baubles hang on our trees. Beautiful glowing lights flicker. The world is filled with a sense of magic and anticipation! There's a wonderful lightening of spirits and excitement, as our hearts feel the hope, joy and peace of the season!

It's definitely a celebration - but there are many who don't realise what they are celebrating! And where all that hope, joy and peace comes from! For these, Christmas might be a time to celebrate love amongst family and friends - and to return, just a little, to the innocent wonder of beauty through the eyes of children. Gifts are given - in honour of the love we have. And these are beautiful and honourable traditions. And then there's Santa, who's supposed to magically deliver all these gifts to the children who love his story! So much fun and wonderful things to treasure. But, like most stories that hold our hearts, there actually is a reality in which they are based.

The legend that is Santa, came from a beautiful man called Saint Nicholas, who dropped gold coins through the window of the destitute home of some sisters who were about to be prostituted to support their family. He is said to have given away all his inherited wealth to help those who were poor and in need. Secret gifts of love to those who really needed it. He 'became' the jolly man in the red suit through the evolution of children's story books. But he's based on someone very real.

And then there's the love, joy, peace and hope which Christmas stirs to life! It's a beautiful spirit of the season. But rather than just based on its magical stories, this too has a real foundation.

While unlikely to be on the exact day we celebrate, the birth of a long hoped for and precious child, brought to life the joy and peace and hope and love of Christmas! He was the gift above all gifts! Showing God's heart to us! He brought with him the promise of life beyond death, of hope beyond suffering! He was the long awaited one - the son of God himself! Born to reconnect us with him forever! Born to break down the barriers between us. Born to teach us what love truly is! Born to break evil's hold on us, and set us free!!!

That's where the love, joy, hope, and peace of Christmas comes from!! And it calls to the need deep within every one of us!! We have a longing for all of it!!! Such a deep longing, that wars have paused on Christmas Day to honour its sacred beauty.

So in the middle of all the tinsel and the magic that is the Christmas we celebrate, remember the reason! Remember that there is a very beautiful and real reason for all it stirs in us!! Enjoy your family and friends. Cherish the ones you love. And know that the love, joy, hope and peace of Christmas can be very real to you - not just on this day, but every day of your life! Open the gift!! It is everything.