December 14, 2018

A song says it well: “I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.” I am pondering those words while reading the Christmas Story from Matthew and Luke in the New Testament. Along with many people, some of my earliest memories are of Christmas time, which in our family always included the story of Jesus’ birth.

There are so many important events in our life. At the time, they are front center in our thoughts, emotions and actions. They become a part of our life story. But as time goes by, they may or may not seem that important. As we add years to our life journey and take time to reflect on the process, certain things will grow in importance, while others become less significant.

Certain people typically come to mind when we reflect on our life. Parents, grandparents, teachers, employers and mentors stand out as positive or negative memories. While not dwelling on the past, it is good to recall our experiences, because we are a product of them.

Some of the stories need to be remembered only enough to accept that they happened and then let them go. Focusing on hurts of the past holds us back from enjoying and growing in the present. I hope that many of our prominent memories are so positive that we like to recall them, mentally relive them and, when appropriate, share those stories.

Knowing Jesus as our Savior and sharing that story with another person is worth repeating whenever possible. Remembering people who have influenced our life in positive ways is good for them to hear and encouraging to others.

The Christmas Story is about Jesus, Who came to Planet Earth to offer humans a way back into a relationship with Creator God. It is a Story worth repeating, and every time we hear it, we hunger to enjoy it again.

Pastor Bill Ehmann