PLACE FOR THE WEARY

Matthew 11:28  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

As I watched in the store today, I could see the wrinkled foreheads, the turned down mouths, the eyes that did not see anyone around them.  Like sheep loose without a shepherd, wandering aisle to aisle, focused on getting done, finish everything up for Christmas. Hurry, hurry, hurry.

What does this gain us?  Are we so focused on making sure everyone has a gift, that everyone is taken care of that we miss the joy and excitement this time of year brings.  I can remember as a child, it was such a joyous ocassion, Christmas.  Of course I was like all youngsters, waiting for Santa to come.  It was an illusion given to most children.  When I got older, I realized it was not so much that it was about Santa, but that the very statement, Santa is watching you to see if you are naughty or nice.  And we heard the tales about a stocking full or sticks and coal.  Stockings were hanging heavily on Christmas morning. But stockings usually were filled with fruit and nuts, perhaps a small toy.  Today stockings can contain a couple of hundred dollars of stuff.....just stuff.  But we looked forward to it with anticipation.  We always had the Christmas story told us before we went to bed, and talked about Jesus' birthday.  But raised in a denominational church, Santa was a big thing.

Now I believe that santa should take a backseat to our Lord.  He should have always, but slowly, slowly we learn.  As the Lord comes into our hearts and the Holy Spirit begins to draw us to worship, draw us to love the Lord with all our hearts, we want to celebrate the real Christmas, the real reason for it...Jesus.  The place of rest for all those who overdo at this time of year. Worrying about how they will manage to buy all they should, go all the places there are invited to go and just go and go and go.
By the time Christmas day gets here, they are so weary, they don't even think about the reason for the day. Their only thought is "let's get this day over with as soon as we can".  They are so tired that they have forgotten about Jesus.

But Jesus has not forgotten them, He thinks of us all the time.  Jesus is waiting, waiting for us to come to Him, to let Him enfold us in His arms and give us rest.  He is waiting to show us the real importance of the season.  He came, He died, He rose again....all for us.  So we could be with Him always, so we could know the Father, so we could have the Comforter with us each day.  There is a chorus, "Come to Jesus, come to Jesus".  That is all that is needed for true rest; true peace.  That is all that is necessary to regain the true meaning of the season. It is not gifts, it is not food, it is the enjoyment of family, the acknowledgement of our Savior, Jesus, and thanksgiving to Him for giving us life in Him, for healing our bodies, for giving us rest.

There is a reason for the season....Jesus, for the birth of Jesus.  The only reason. Come to Jesus and regain the truth of this time of year.....relax in Him and let your family see the real meaning of Christmas in you.  Rest in the Lord, let His beautiful peace give you the gift you are looking for.  It is perfect for everyone.