No ordinary Christmas

It’s amazing how a few simple words have the power to seize attention and capture imagination. I recently heard a friend deliver a Christmas message that revolved around one simple phrase: “No Ordinary Christmas.” I’ve not been able to shake the concept.

I think of new immigrants to Canada, surrounded by brand new traditions. What will Christmas be like for them? I think of all the highly publicized individuals who have just won massive amounts of money in various lotteries. It won’t be ordinary for them. Their friends’ gift expectations just soared. I think of those who have new babies in their home this year or a new daughter or son-in-law. Things will change for them. Some folks have a new puppy who is definitely threatening to add a new dimension to their celebration.

I wonder, is there ever such a thing as an ordinary Christmas?

For many this Christmas will be shaped, not by the exciting kinds of experiences described above but by deeply painful, fearful or challenging circumstances that have invaded their lives.

Imagine how a 13-year-old who’s the target of cyberbullying might answer the innocent question, “What would you most like for Christmas?” Or how about the young mom with two or three little ones who’s just discovered her husband has been fooling around? How about those who have stood at a graveside this year and will face the deeply painful reality of a newly empty chair around their table? I could make this list as long as the editor would allow space but you get the point. Life happens and it includes a mixture of both joy and pain.

The issue is that Christmas magnifies both. There is nothing like this season to flood your heart with both the grandest anticipation and the darkest dread. There is nothing like Christmas to help you express exuberant joy during the great times, and there is nothing like Christmas to cause you to feel the loneliness, fear and pain during the hard times. In other words, there is no such thing as an ordinary Christmas because Christmas is not an ordinary event.

It certainly wasn’t ordinary for Mary when the angel met her with the most unusual greeting. It wasn’t ordinary for Joseph, when Mary uttered the words, “Joe, I’m pregnant.” Talk about a wrench in the forehead. It wasn’t even ordinary for the shepherds minding their own business around the campfire. When’s the last time an army of angels appeared to you with a message of that consequence?

If you grant the point that there is no such thing as an ordinary Christmas, the question becomes, “How will you address it?” What will you intentionally do to gain the most, grow the most, remember the most, and create the deepest impact for those you love?

Maybe this Christmas will be a breakthrough in family closeness because of shared pain. Perhaps it will be a unique expression of gratitude because of immense blessing.

Possibly, if nothing unusual is occurring in your life, it will be a celebration of stability in some of the most tumultuous times in recent world history.

Whatever your circumstance, just don’t miss the opportunity for this ordinary Christmas to be extraordinary for you.