Remembering Christmases Past

Christmas is such a nostalgic time, isn't it?

Every year as the season rolls around, I find myself traveling down memory lane, remembering Christmases past and the people that shared them.

It starts as I get decorations and ornaments out of their storage spaces.  Remembering where I bought this ornament or who gave me that one.  Remembering my mother as I get out the snowmen she made or as I hang the door decoration she quilted.  Remembering travels and the ornaments purchased on those trips.  Remembering.

Throughout the season, more memories flood my thinking.  This year I'm feeling particularly nostalgic about my trips to Israel.  In three of the past four Christmas seasons, some part of my holiday - either just before Christmas or shortly after Christmas Day - has been spent in the Holy Land.  Last year, in fact, we spent New Year's Eve in Bethlehem!

 

 

As I have hung ornaments we purchased in Israel, as I have placed the olive wood nativity set we purchased in Bethlehem carefully in its place, and as my eyes are drawn to other things we purchased while we were there, my heart and mind have traveled back again and again.  Such a flood of memories!

 

This morning I read Matthew's account of Mary and Joseph traveling with Baby Jesus to Egypt to escape King Herod.  And as I read I could vividly recall our first trip to the Holy Land, which included several days in Egypt.  We visited one of the places where it is believed that Mary and Joseph and Jesus lived while they were there. 

 

 

As my Advent readings have taken me through the Scriptures, through the prophecies and through the gospel accounts, my memories have taken me to Bethlehem, to the place of Christ's birth.

 

 

And to a field outside Bethlehem

where shepherds first heard the news, announced by the angels,  

of the birth of the Savior.

 

 

During those visits to Israel, we walked where Jesus walked.

We went to Nazareth and to Galilee.

And to Jerusalem.

There we followed His footsteps

from Gethsemane to Calvary.

And we stood on the Mount of Olives,

the place where one day He will return to earth.

 

 

 

Christmas makes me nostalgic.  It has me looking back.  But it also causes me to look forward, to that Christmas yet future when Christ will return to earth.  No longer a Baby in a manger, but King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

  



"On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east."  (Zechariah 14:4 ESV)

 

Thinking about Israel makes me nostalgic.  Christmas music has that effect as well.  There are some songs that evoke strong memories of Christmases past.  Of the people and places that I associate with them.  Of the times I sang them or heard them sung.

 

O Holy Night is one of those kinds of songs.  I love how it covers all the parts of the Christmas story.  The night of Christ's birth.  The angels singing.  The star.  The wise men.  The manger.  And the reason for His coming.  He knows our need.  To our weakness He is no stranger.  In all our trials born to be our Friend.  He taught us to love one another.  His law is love and His gospel is peace. In His name all oppression shall cease. 

 

Particularly in this Christmas season, this season of violence and discord and tension and murder and terrorism and persecution, we need that message more than ever.

 

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end."  (Isaiah 9:6-7a ESV)

 

 

Hear David Phelps sing O Holy Night here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElJ0fiD0lkc