Sunday marks another year since the
birth of Jesus Christ. It is a remarkable story, one that transcends political
affiliation and race and national origin and, yes, religion. Even the most
avowed atheist must admit, if he’s being honest, that it is remarkable how the
birth and life of one man, a carpenter’s son in an oppressed, far-flung corner
of the Roman Empire, could so dramatically shape the course of human history.
Like Thanksgiving, Easter, and the
Fourth of July, Sunday is a day to spend with friends and family. To come
together, give thanks for the year that was, and look forward to the blessings
that the new year will bring. And to forgive and heal after a campaign season
that drove rifts into even the most apolitical of families.
But above all, don’t forget why we
celebrate Christmas, why it is a time for gift-giving and hot chocolate and fat
elves in red suits. Because more than two thousand years ago, in the cold and
loneliness of the outskirts of Bethlehem, three magi came to honor the newborn
King, with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
It may be a cliché, but that doesn’t
make it any less true: Don’t forget the reason for the season.
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