Several years ago while visiting family in Kentucky at Christmas, my sister asked if I would share the Christmas story with her young children. As the evening continued, I found myself putting it off until it was time to leave. They did not hear the story of Jesus’ birth that night.

Why? I’m not sure and the excuses really don’t matter. What does matter is that I missed an opportunity to positively influence three kids I dearly loved.

We all know Christmas is too commercialized and the real meaning often gets lost. We allow the other aspects of our celebration to triumph.

Family! Presents! Parties! Like most of you, I enjoy these other aspects of Christmas.

But what about Jesus? How does He fit into all of it?

Christmas is on Sunday this year for the first time since 2005. Our church is having services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I will be at both of them. Would I be if I wasn’t a preacher? I would like to think so. If not both, at one of them. After all it is Jesus’ incarnation we celebrate each Christmas and spiritual leadership in the family means I help them focus on the right things.

I failed as a spiritual leader that evening many years ago and I still remember it. I hope this reflection from my past helps someone this week to do better than I did then.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Steve Hogg