Ah, Christmas! What an exciting and special time of the year. Though adulthood, with its grownup logic and realities have depleted much of the childhood magic and luster I once associated with the Christmas holiday, I still have rather fond memories of Christmas past.

I grew up in south Mississippi, in a little place called the Sunrise Community, a suburb of Hattiesburg and Petal. We lived right down the gravel road from my grandparents, the late Frank and Mary Napier. It was the custom of the Napier clan to meet at grandma and grandpa’s house on Christmas Eve for a Christmas celebration. In my young mind, our Christmas Eve family gathering was the most enchanting and exciting day of the year. I got to see family members then that I rarely saw any other time; and some I’d not met before. It was wonderfully fascinating to discover I had kinfolk who lived in far-away places like Washington State, California, or Georgia; places I’d never been before. Christmas Eve was all about surprises, and the family get-together never disappointed me.

There were a number of constants about Christmas Eve at my grandparents’ house that, to this day, I find enjoyable, albeit in memory form. Upon stepping into my grandparents’ living room, the aroma of an oak or hickory fire, crackling in the fireplace, seemed to say, “Merry Christmas.” The warmth of the fire was welcomed, since it was often cold outside during December.

To my right, after entering the front door, was a six-foot Christmas tree, with what looked to my youthful eyes to be mountains of brightly wrapped presents. My grandparents were sticklers about trying not to leave anybody out at Christmas time. My cousin, Johnny, and I, would feverishly search through the mounds of gifts until we found boxes with our names on them, and then try to guess what was in the package.

Hanging on the warm air currents in the house were the wonderful smells of scented candles, fresh-cooked hams and turkeys, my favorite varieties of pies, and assorted homemade candies. In those days, I was a scrawny little kid, who could eat all the sweets I wanted without gaining an ounce. Oh, for a return to those days.

After I’d investigated all the sights, sounds, and smells inside the house, I’d go outside to pop firecrackers with the rest of the kids. Since some of my uncles and older cousins brought a little bit of everything, when it came to fireworks, it often sounded like the Napier clan was trying to re-enact the battle of Bull Run. The explosions could be heard reverberating off the nearby hillsides. It was glorious and marvelous to my childish way of thinking.

Eventually, one of the adults would come to the front porch and yell, “Y’all come on in now. It’s time for our devotion.” Within a few minutes, everyone could be found in the living room of the old house. Someone would read the story of the birth of Christ from the Bible, and make a few comments concerning the real meaning of Christmas. It was always stressed to the family and children, that Christmas was about celebrating the birth of Christ, our Savior, and that though we gave presents to one another, we did so to honor the fact that God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son to die, paying the penalty for man’s sins, so we could be forgiven, and receive eternal life, by inviting Jesus into our heart (John 3:16).

The person leading the devotion would then lead the family in prayer, thanking God for His provision and protection during the year. When the “Amen” was said, I would look over at my grandparents to observe their reaction to the proceedings. My granddaddy, who was 6’4”, weighing about 295 lbs, and all muscle, would be softly weeping and wiping tears from his rugged face, along with my short, stooped grandmother by his side, who was doing much the same. That scene always had a profound impact upon my heart and mind; and it still does to this day.

Yes, Christmas is the celebration of Christ. We must never forget however, that Christ did not come to merely occupy a cradle, but He came to die on a cross, for the sins of mankind. Jesus did not come into our world to institute a holiday, but to give Himself a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45).

Permit me to leave you with the following significant thoughts concerning Christ:

Mary had the Little Lamb

Mary had the little Lamb, who lived before His birth;
Self-existent Son of God, from Heaven He came to Earth (Micah 5:2).

Mary had the little Lamb; see Him in yonder stall—
Virgin-born Son of God, to save man from the Fall (Isaiah 7:14).

Mary had the little Lamb, obedient Son of God;
Everywhere the Father led, His feet were sure to trod (John 6:38).

Mary had the little Lamb, crucified on the tree,
The rejected Son of God, He died to set men free (1 Pet. 1:18).

Mary had the little Lamb—men placed Him in the grave,
Thinking they were done with Him; to death He was no slave (Matthew 28:6)!

Mary had the little Lamb, ascended now is He;
All work on Earth is ended, our Advocate to be (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Mary had the little Lamb—mystery to behold!
From the Lamb of Calvary, a Lion will unfold (Revelation 5:5, 6).

When the Day Star comes again, of this be very sure:
It won’t be Lamb-like silence, but with the Lion’s roar (Psalm 2:12; Revelation 19:11-16).

Marv and Marbeth Rosenthal. Used with permission of the authors.