The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It’s that wonderful time of year again! The sights, the smells, the music, the movie “Elf”…it’s all back! What a joyous time of year. A time of gatherings, a time to relax (maybe), a time to celebrate, a time to look forward, and a time to remember. It truly is, as Andy Williams sang, “The most wonderful time of the year.”

If you’re a parent of a child with autism, there’s probably other things on your mind too because this season can be overwhelming. Breaks in routines. Hustle and bustle. Large gatherings. Toys everywhere. It can be sensory overload even for us as parents. It’s important to find little ways to adjust so you can enjoy this time of year with your child without becoming too overwhelmed. That looks different for every family.

One thing we recognized early on, for example, was the importance of spacing out presents rather than giving them all at once. It helps our kids enjoy what’s in front of them rather than focusing on many items at once. And I guarantee that our daily household routines will still remain much the same even on Christmas Day. Overdoing it or changing too many things never works in our favor (which we’ve learned the hard way with Ellie in the past).

Jack is really diving into the holiday cheer this year. Each morning he’s enjoyed building tiny Legos from his advent calendar. He’s Mr. Countdown to Christmas. It’s fun for us to share in his excitement!

Ellie has been her steady self. I think she recognizes there is something different and special about the Christmas season, but she carries on as if it’s no big deal. Although she doesn’t show the same enthusiasm as Jack, it’s refreshing that she doesn’t get worked up over it all.

Lucy is, well, 3-years old. We never know what we are going to get with that one. She enjoys following Jack around, and if he’s excited about something, we know she will be too.

Speaking of Jack, I recently received feedback from a lady who has been helping with our kids in the children’s ministry. She said to me, “Jack really loves Jesus!”

What an amazing gift that was.

That was also encouraging because this year I’m having more conversations with Jack about Christmas and why we celebrate it. I try to keep it simple and avoid theologically-packed words such as “incarnation”…but maybe next year. Since Jack’s apparent love language is gifts (as it probably is for most 5-year-olds), I talk to him about how Jesus is the greatest gift we can receive…better than Duplo Legos and Paw Patrol. Next year I can have a debate with him about the number of wise men that came to see Jesus. Jack has learned that Jesus came to rescue us and He saves us from our sin. We will stick with that and call it a big win!

Below is a recent Q&A I had with Jack in the car about Christmas. Enjoy!

A Tree to Remember

This year I’ve been pondering the tradition of putting up Christmas trees in our home. Why do we do it? Why do we rearrange the furniture to make room for these 7, 8, 9-foot structures? Is it simply just a feel-good tradition? They do indeed make us feel good inside. I recently caught myself staring at one of our trees and just enjoying the beauty of it (We’ve graduated from one tree to two trees to now three trees!). The classic song came to my mind while I gazed:

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, You Stand in Splendid Beauty!

Something about the ambience of a Christmas tree changes the feel of an entire home. Good feelings. Warm feelings. Nothing puts people in the mood for the Christmas season more than a Christmas tree, unless you enjoy watching Hallmark movies before Thanksgiving (ahem, my wife). Her favorite Hallmark movie is the one where the guy and girl actually end up together in the end.

Christmas Trees bring wonderful traditions! Some of you run out to tree farms to cut down your own tree. Some of you grab it out of the attic year after year. My family wasn’t the tree hunting-type, but it’s okay, I am not biased either way…even though I know some of you stick your nose up to people who prefer artificial trees (admit it!). But before you judge me, just know that my tree growing up not only played music, but it also spun slowly in a circle. I thought it was the coolest tree in the world. Real trees can’t do that!

Putting the Christmas Tree up as a kid was a big deal. The excitement of it was second only to waking up Christmas morning. I had to be part of setting it up by putting every single ornament on the tree that could fit. Literally, EVERY ornament until EVERY square inch of the tree was covered. Then, as gifts began to pile under the tree, I would lay on the floor next to the tree enjoying it’s spinning mechanism and dream of Christmas morning.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, You Stand in Splendid Beauty!

I imagine the traditions surrounding your family’s Christmas tree are also personal. As I just mentioned, some love artificial trees while some love real trees. Some fancy flocked trees while some prefer unflocked (I’m surprised that’s a real word). Some prefer white lights on their tree while others prefer multi-colored lights. Some trees even give you up to 8 (yes, 8!) lighting options like one of ours. Some people like to put popcorn on their tree while others do the tinsel thing. Some adorn their tree with beautifully color-coordinated ornaments while some place paint-splattered ornaments their kids made in Kindergarten. Some fasten a star at the top of their tree while others may place an angel or a bow. I have friends who have a tradition of setting a clapping monkey on top of their tree and I have the evidence in the picture below!

Yes, Christmas trees are indeed personal…but that’s what makes them so special to us.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, You Stand in Splendid Beauty!

A Tale of Two Trees

Let me challenge you this year to consider two other trees that ought to be immensely personal to us. Two trees to remember when you consider the splendid beauty of your own tree(s).

A tree of knowledge that led to death

A tree of death that led to life.

It began with a tree in the Garden of Eden. There was no death, no pain, and no suffering there – just beautiful communion between God and Adam and Eve. In the garden, there was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Most of us know the story well by now. God warned Adam and Eve, “Ye shall surely die” if you eat of its fruit (Genesis 2:17). Yet, being tempted by the serpent, they disobeyed God and ate, resulting in the curse of death over mankind. 

I’ve struggled with the idea of God placing this tree in the garden with its boundaries. Why go through with it? But as I’ve pondered it more, I began to think about its representation of God’s law and the impossibility of man keeping it. God’s law is perfect and good. Man-made law doesn’t even come close. Like this tree, God’s law brings condemnation to the hearts of man in order to reveal to us our need for a Savior.

That’s it’s ultimate purpose – to point us to salvation.

The first Adam had failed, but God had a plan! The tree of knowledge of good and evil was the first signpost leading to another tree…a tree of death that would give us life. The cross.

When I consider the cross, I immediately think about the mercy of God, the grace of God, and the love of God demonstrated in Christ. As we should every day! But you can’t clearly see the mercy, grace, and love of the cross unless they are placed on the backdrop of God’s justice and holiness.

At the cross, law and grace kissed. Justice and mercy embraced. All of God’s attributes were on full display.

Christ came to earth at His appointed time and we celebrate and rejoice! We rejoice at Jesus’ birth because we were given a way to peace with God leading to unending joy.

But when you see your Christmas tree in splendid glory, remember that first tree in the garden; how it led to death but paved a road to redemption. A road leading to the cross. Jesus Christ was despised, rejected, afflicted, oppressed, stricken, and smitten by God so that we could be loved, accepted, and uplifted (Isaiah 53:1-7).

Paul Tripp puts it this way:

Jesus was willing to be despised. He was willing to face rejection. He was willing to subject himself to hatred and violence. He was even willing to have the Father turn His back on him. Why was he willing to do all this> He did it willingly so that, as children, you and I would be able to live in the hope and peace of knowing that no matter what we face in the human community, we are perfectly and eternally loved by him. He endured rejection so that we would know God’s accepting love forever and ever and ever. How amazing is this grace!

Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies

When you celebrate around your Christmas tree this season, remember that you have that privilege because of another tree. A tree not adorned with ornaments, lights, or popcorn – but one adorned with the life-giving blood of Christ.

Oh Rugged Cross, Oh Rugged Cross, You Stand in Splendid Beauty!

I pray this Christmas season that you will be blessed as you enjoy friends and family, light candles and sing songs, maybe eat cinnamon rolls (Jack’s favorite), give gifts to each other, watch “The Christmas Story”, and celebrate the birth of Christ.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.