In 2001 author John Grisham broke from the norm. Usually writing crime dramas which focus around lawyers and courtrooms, he wrote a book which was totally different. I don’t know why he wrote the book he did, but it was successful. Perhaps, since he is purported to be a Christ-follower, he shared the same concerns about the Christmas season as you and I might. Anyway, he wrote a book called Skipping Christmas which followed Luther and Nora Krank’s desire to have a different kind of Christmas. They have it in their minds to skip the holiday altogether. Theirs will be the only house on Hemlock Street without a rooftop Frosty; they won’t be hosting their annual Christmas bash; they aren’t even going to have a tree. They won’t need one, because on December 25th they’re setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. But the weary couple is soon to find out that skipping Christmas beings enormous consequences-and it isn’t half as easy as they’d imagined.
Like the Kranks, we may find ourselves wanting to skip Christmas. I’m not so concerned about skipping Christmas as I am with losing Christmas. No, the date will never be changed. No, the season will never be skipped over. Even many merchants, who make no pretense at all of believing the Christmas story, want it to stay. Their reasons are different, than say yours and mine, but the point stands.
This week, and throughout the month of December, my sermon series has a working title of “Familiarity Breeds…” But rather than contempt I want to flip that idea to four other topics. You can see them on the banner above. Thanks for your prayers this weekend. They are greatly appreciated.
I like what you said about being more concerned about losing Christmas than skipping it, Bill. It’s all too easy for us to miss the reason for the season when we are busy dashing through the snow to get everything done for the holiday. Praying everyone will cherish the real gift of Christmas this year.
Prayers for you!
I’m with you, Bill. And I’m praying for you as well.
Hi Bill! I love that familiarity breeds answers. How can we learn without review and thinking about each theme? Wisdom doesn’t usually come all at once.
I hope your series goes well! And I would never want to be without Christmas, or this precious time leading up to it. It’s such a great opportunity for renewal and rededication to faith. I’m really happy we have Christmas! (and for different reasons than the stores, as you pointed out),
Ceil