12.08.06

Today’s devotional was written by my son, Clark Wrather, who is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma (Clark has been the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Yukon, Oklahoma since July 2012.). The title and Scripture have been added.

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. - Matthew 2:9-11.

I wonder just how many scrooges are reading this newsletter. You are a scrooge if you dread the time of year around Thanksgiving and Christmas and look forward to it being over. Is this you? I am not too sure, why, or how I became a scrooge, but it happened over the last few years. It may have been the rush of having to go to this and to that holiday event. Maybe, it was the hassle of finding just the right gift for my children and everyone else on my list. It may just be the fact that a good radio station is hard to find during this time of year, one that is not playing Christmas music all day long.

Whatever the reason, I admit I became a scrooge. When I was younger, this was my favorite time of year. I could not wait for it as a child and then, as an adult, I had the same anticipation. The food, the decorations, buying presents, and giving them combined to make things wonderful. I'm not really sure how this changed.

I’ve realized recently, that every person only has so many Christmases. There are only so many times that we get to celebrate this holiday during our lives. Over the last few weeks, I have known about two men in their early thirties, who died. Both deaths were unexpected and their families have been on my mind as Christmas approaches. It will be a difficult holiday for them. Most of us think the holidays are difficult, but we really have no idea what the words hard and difficult mean.

This year, I have decided to tender my resignation to "Scrooges Anonymous" and enjoy the holidays with relish. Would you join me? As Christians who believe in Jesus Christ, is there anything better to celebrate than the coming of God’s only Son into our world? Sure, it is hectic - buying gifts can be a hassle and there are parties you might want to miss, but none of those things change the fact that the Creator became one of His creatures and you are alive to celebrate it this Christmas.