The holidays are not peaceful. They just aren’t. For all of our singing of “Silent Night” and wishes for “Peace on Earth” we tend to keep ourselves spun into a tizzy while trying to accomplish too much, and please too many.
I love the magical busyness that this season brings, but I inevitably push my kids to stay up too late, and then they cry. I cause my family to grumble when I skitter around trying to frantically hide our clutter before guests arrive. Oh, and lets not forget the frantic scramble to get everything wrapped, cooked, or otherwise prepared until far too late on Christmas eve, causing me to be a sleepy mess the next day.
Not peaceful. Wonderful, busy, delicious, and colorful, but certainly not peaceful.
So why do we even consider Christmas a time of peace? Well, it comes from this verse in Luke 2:13&14: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'”
Many of us think that the meaning of this verse is that people should treat one another kindly, especially during the holidays. Nope. That is a lovely ideal, but not what the text is saying. Notice that it says “to men,” not “between men.” In fact, the angels were saying that peace would come from God to men. Peace not by force or military superiority, but through His choice to be merciful to those who honor that tiny baby.
We aren’t peaceful. Thank goodness we were given a great Christmas present – a gift of peace and mercy from God.
Peace will come to men. The question is: When?
Lovely thoughts, and astute, too.
Hadn’t really thought about Christmas in this way, but it’s very true!
great point!
Yes, I still have that song stuck in my head, but luckily I have a few other beautiful Christmas songs that rotate through my mind :) thanks for stopping, commenting & linking up! Merry Christmas!