It never fails. I hear the same question every year: “Are you ready for Christmas?”
Seems like a simple question. Maybe it’s the same as a friendly “How are you?” to which we dutifully answer, “I’m fine, how are you?” It’s just something we do.
Last year I paid closer attention to how many times the question came up. It started right after Thanksgiving and kept repeating itself until right before Christmas Eve. I began to analyze the words and tried to figure out what the asker was really trying to find out. Perhaps they were asking if my shopping was finished or if I had put up my Christmas tree and decorations. Maybe they were wondering if I had nailed down family plans, Christmas dinner, or holiday travel.
After all my analyzing, I wondered if I truly was ready. Had I made a place in the busyness for the Christ of Christmas? Was I quick to let others know that He is the real reason for the season? Was I was prepared to kneel before the babe in the manger, acknowledging Him as Savior and Lord?
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines ready as “being prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action—to plan in advance, work out the details, and get into a proper state of mind.”
Maybe that’s the ultimate answer: a proper state of mind. I love the song that talks about needing more Christmas all year long. It’s a wonderful, magical time of year, but the real magic—the real Spirit of Christmas—is the supernatural, life-giving presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Once we invite Him in, He promises to be with us always—24/7, 365 days of the year, and then for all eternity. We can celebrate Him every single day and not have to wait until the calendar says it’s time to pull out all the stops.
I love Christmas—the sights, sounds, and smells. But I especially love the One whose birthday we celebrate … the One who gave His all so we might gain everything. “Are you ready?” has taken on new meaning for me.
The next time someone asks if you’re ready for Christmas, say confidently, “Yes, I’m always ready. Are you?”
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Andrea Merrell is an award-winning author and professional freelance editor. She is an associate editor with Christian Devotions Ministries and was a finalist for the 2016 Editor of the Year Award at BRMCWC and the 2018 Excellence in Editing award by the Christian Editors Network. Andrea is a graduate of Christian Communicators and was a finalist in the 2015 USA Best Book Awards and the 2018 Selah Awards, as well as a semi-finalist in the 2018 ACFW Genesis contest. She has been published in numerous anthologies and online venues, teaches workshops on writing and editing, and is the co-founder and regular contributor to www.TheWriteEditing.com, a blog designed specifically for writers. Andrea is the author of Murder of a Manuscript, Praying for the Prodigal, and Marriage: Make It or Break It. Contact her at www.AndreaMerrell.com.