Five year old Stephen was quoting his memory verse for the annual children’s Christmas pageant at his church. As he recited the familiar John 3:16, he got all the words right except one, but that one made a big difference. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only forgotten Son...” Hi, I’m Tom Ellsworth from Sherwood Oaks Christian Church with a minute message.
Even though Stephen misquoted his memory verse, there is some truth in what he said. In all of the excitement of this wonderful time of the year, I’m afraid we too often forget the real reason for our celebration. I truly enjoy the Christmas season with all of its beauty and timeless traditions, but we could celebrate Christmas without lights, ornaments and trees, without cards and gifts, without snowmen, reindeer and Santa, even without those wonderful holiday baked treats, but there would be no Christmas without the birth of a baby boy more than twenty centuries ago. Why we wouldn’t even have the word, Christmas, without the Christ. You may forget where you hid a gift or forget to send a couple cards; just be certain that in all of your preparations you don’t forget the only One who makes Christmas, Christmas!