Breath of the Spirit

Spiritual Essay

 

December 25, 2004: CHRISTMAS DAY

 

 

Forty-seven years ago, I interrupted the Christmas morning rituals of a
farm family in Northwestern Pennsylvania because I didn’t want to sit in
my mother’s womb for another week! The doctor thought I would arrive on
New Year’s Day, but I clearly had other plans. As my parent’s tell it,
they had just managed to get my five siblings sat down to breakfast. Mom
sat in her chair, drew a breath, looked across the table at my father
and said “this one’s not going to wait!” Where Joseph looked for
lodging, Dad looked for a way to clear several inches of snow from the
half mile of dirt road separating our farmhouse and the “highway” (a
paved, two-lane road.) From there, it was a mere ten miles to the
hospital. While Dad dealt with the snow as best he could, Mom called my
uncle and aunt to ask that they come to watch over my sisters and
brothers so they would have something of a normal Christmas. Mary was
grateful for the manger, Mom was grateful to make it to the hospital in
time.

Sharing the birthday of the Christ is a unique experience. For as long
as I can remember, the first thing that pops into my head on MY birthday
is -- “Happy Birthday Jesus! “. Was I shortchanged as a child? I always
had a cake, as did my siblings. But, my birthday was/ is overshadowed by
Christmas gifts and parties. I have endured my share of the dreaded
“Birthday Christmas” card (apologies if you sent me one).

To be honest, even I get them confused. We spend a week wishing one
another “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” as a habit. Throw me a
“Happy Birthday”, and I start to reply “Happy Birthday to you too”.
Acknowledging the day of my birth -- becomes one of those items on the
check list. Wrapping paper -- check, turkey -- check, pumpkin pie --
check, Midnight Mass -- check, say happy birthday to M. A. -- check…
Hey, believe me I’m grateful to make the check list at all. But I don’t
know that I really know how to celebrate a birthday. I’m not sure I know
how to celebrate other people’s birthdays either. After all, I spend
part of my own birthday forgetting it is my birthday. But I don’t think
celebrating birthdays is about gifts, cake and cards, though that is all
very nice. I think that wrapped up in the phrase “Happy Birthday” is the
simple recognition from friends and family that your birth into this
world touched their lives.

Lest you think this was all about me, I’ve got news for you. There is
this guy, Jesus, whose birthday happens to be on Christmas. He arrived
at an inconvenient time for his earthly parents, who had to scramble to
prepare for his birth. Funny thing, his birthday became overshadowed by
Christmas gifts and parties. For many of us, acknowledging his birthday,
as the day of HIS birth, becomes one of those items on the check list.
Do we really understand the concept of celebrating the birth of Jesus,
the Christ? Is there a more important birthday to Christians? This
Christmas morning, give him a couple minutes of your time -- just the
two of you. Give Him the simple recognition that His birth touched your
life, and that you are all the richer for it!

 

--M.A. Ladd