Write His Answer

Guest post
by
Cheri Roan Clay

As I stood in the Christmas isle at Wal-Mart, I cried. I allowed my tears to flow as I looked at the decorations. True they were pretty. In fact, some were very nice. But as I walked the Christmas section looking for inspiration to teach my kids in my Sunday school class about Jesus, my eyes saw no angels, no nativity scenes. All I saw were penguins, snowmen, Santa Clauses – but no Jesus. As the sadness consumed me, I asked Jesus, “Has it gotten so bad they have forgotten You?” The answer I received was a greater sadness to meet my own.

Where did the reason for the season go? Where in the hustle and bustle that seems to start before Halloween did we lose the real meaning of Thanksgiving and Jesus’ birth? Where did it all go? Did we as Christians allow it to disappear? Did we allow time and change to destroy Christ in Christmas? Could we have done anything to stop it even if we had tried? I don’t have the answers. All I have is the sadness of my soul that won’t let go. My spirit cries out that we must change this.

We ask God to bless America, but we can’t even remember His Son’s birthday. Sure I know those of us that are Christians celebrate in our homes and in our churches, but we can’t let others forget the reason why. We can’t turn a blind eye and pretend we don’t see there are no more nativity scenes. We can’t turn a deaf ear while our kids learn “Here Comes Santa Claus” and are not allowed to sing “Away in a Manger.” Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with penguins, snowmen and Santa Clauses, but when we allow them to overshadow and even take the place of Jesus then yes, something is wrong – definitely wrong. Sure we can point fingers and say it’s not our fault; it’s the government or someone else’s fault. But the truth of the matter is point one finger at someone else and there is still the other fingers pointing at ourselves.

Again I don’t have the answers. All I have is the why of my sadness as I beg Jesus for forgiveness for allowing this to happen. So with sadness within I stand tall and proud and humbled in God’s love and say JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON and let us never, ever forget that!

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Thank you, Cheri, for expressing so powerfully the sadness in my heart and for giving me permission to post this. Father, please bring our nation back to You.