So you have an elf this year. Maybe it’s a nice elf who leaves sweet surprises for your children each night. Maybe it is a naughty elf who does silly tricks and makes messes and memories alike. Or maybe your elf leaves projects for your children so that they can learn more about the nativity story and Jesus.
Or maybe you don’t have an elf. You just don’t feel right about it. You just cannot get over how “creepy” they seem to you. Or maybe you just don’t have time to move that tricky thing every night and just don’t want to mess with it all together.
The truth is, there is definitely more than one way to feel about those little guys in tiny red suits that pop up in our houses and on our newsfeeds each year. And every year… season after season… it never fails that clear lines are drawn in the sand. Those who are for the elves, those who aren’t for the elves, and those who just want everyone to stop talking about them.
So, as Christians, where do we start with this conversation? Where do we find the right answer? And how do we convince everyone we know that we are right?
You know, that just might be the real problem. Because the truth is… there is more than one right way to feel about the whole thing. That is probably not what we want to admit, but it is true.
Because the conversation about the elves and Jesus is just a smaller example of the struggle we face every day as Christians. How to keep a Christ-centered Christmas is just a smaller picture of our greater fight: how to maintain a Christ-centered life.
That’s the real conversation we should be having.
As Christians, our every act should glorify God. Every… Act. That’s a ton of pressure. But that scandal of my salvation comes with this simple truth: Jesus knows that I’m going to fail and yet pursues my heart anyway. He knows I’m going to make my own choices. He knows that I need His grace. It is free. It isn’t a pass to live my life however I want, but it is permission to keep following Him even if I mess up! What a gift!
So that is the gift that I am offering each of us this Christmas. Grace.
I love the memories that you are making with your Elf and your children! They will never forget them!
I love your beautiful advent calendar and your dedication to tell the nativity story to your small children day by day.
I love your grandpa dressed like Santa to deliver presents on Christmas Eve.
I love your dedication to the soup kitchens and outreaches instead of the time and money you could spend on your own purchases.
Is it how we are going to celebrate Christmas this year? Maybe not… But does it really matter?
I have discovered in the last few weeks that there is no “right” way to do Christmas. We each think that the way our family celebrates Christmas is the best, and honestly, we are all correct! There is no better way for you to celebrate Christmas than how YOU have determined in your own hearts is right for your family. You don’t need some blog or some lady you have never met to tell you that.
But maybe this Christmas can be different. Maybe we can look beyond our traditions and remember our Truth. Because at the end of the day, our hearts should focus more on how we feel about sharing Jesus with the world rather than how we feel about Jesus sharing Christmas with elves.
What do you think?
