The Christmas Transformation

Just after Thanksgiving it happens in neighborhoods all over town and throughout the country…the Christmas Transformation. The Christmas Transformation is the process of changing the everyday look of a house into a house which reflects the spirit of Christmas. As you drive around town at night you see everything from a simple candle placed on a window seal to houses being completely outlined with lights to houses which resemble the Griswold’s house in the movie “Christmas Vacation”. Some homeowners go to all the trouble to cut out Christmas characters and place them on their lawn. Some have music playing outside. It really is an interesting process to witness. Some of the families who decorate their house go to a lot of person trouble and they take up a great deal of time and energy. Others simply call up a Christmas Light decorating service to do all the work for them, which seems to be the way to go if you can afford the service.

As you drive around the city you will find that some neighborhoods have almost every house decorated for the holiday season and then there are neighborhoods like the one I live in where most of the houses have little or no decoration. For some families the idea of going to that much trouble to change the appearance of your house for one month is just too much work for too short of time. I know for many homes the amount of effort which is put into the decorating of the house is in direct proportion to the number of children in the house and their collective ages. It seems that the older your children get or the fewer children you have at home the less likely it is that you will do any decorating unless of course the grandchildren are coming and then all bets are off.

The Christmas Transformation… what a process… but is it what the season is all about? This season of the year that brings about a short pause in our busy lives to reflect upon the birth of the Christ child should in some way bring about a transformation within the hearts of all those who believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. This is a wonderful time of year to be reminded that those who wear the name Christian have a story to tell and it is a story which has the power to transform an ordinary person into a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is a story that has been told millions of times over the last 2000 years. It is a story that has changed the hearts of people of all races and from all places. It is a story that has changed the direction of entire nations of people. Most of all it is a story that can take the hardest heart and turn that heart into one who loves God completely.

So this year as you and your family drive around town looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights which brighten up our spirits for a few short weeks remember the real reason for the season is to remind you of the story that has the power to change the world forever. You have a story to tell so go ahead… tell it…let the world know the reason you have joy in your heart everyday and not just for a season. Tell you neighbors how they too can have peace on earth. Go ahead…. Tell the story.

Love God. Go Love Others.