I think, if asked, most of us would immediately respond that the true meaning of Christmas is Christ’s birth. At the heart level, I love the opportunities this time of year gives us to share the Good News of a baby born unto us. I wouldn’t tell you with words that the true meaning of Christmas is Chocolatadas and Christmas parties, or shopping and decorating.
But if you looked at my calendar…and my to-do-list…you may hear a different story.
Our amazing elementary performed the cutest little skit about “El verdadero significado de Navidad,” the true meaning of Christmas. We giggled at their cute costumes and silly antics, but the message of their skit rang true to the heart. So many different things cry out for our attention at Christmas: the tree that needs decorating, the presents that need wrapping, even good things like family events can often distract us with their busyness. As we find ourselves smack in the middle of the Christmas season, let’s slow down and truly celebrate the beautiful significance of Christmas in each and every thing we do!
“All things Christmas” actually started for Ella and I (Marcy) in November as we led the Impacto Senior Citizens in a Christmas craft. I love that this group pours into the lives of our elderly neighbors, showing them that they are important and still very much capable of enjoying and celebrating life! It was good to sit and have one-on-one conversations with them as they strung their string art wreaths.
Mike led the last SALT middle school youth group meeting before Christmas. This is a really special group of kids. I love how they are growing and maturing both physically and in their faith journey.
Every year our Christmas Outreach is a little different. This one was super special because we invited students from Refugio De Esperanza, the school directly behind us to come and share a time of Christmas fun with us. The school has several hundred students in its Primary, Secondary and Special Needs schools but these particular kids board at the school for different reasons, living on campus in a dorm during the school year. It is always a little harder getting students who are unfamiliar with each other to interact, but after a time of games and Christmas songs, everyone was smiling and chatting. The most fun, I think, was actually after we officially ended, when rain failed to deter a pick-up game of soccer, volleyball-volleying, knock-out basketball and one very happy little kid entertaining a group with his new remote control car.
In addition to our Christmas Outreach, our students had some very special opportunities to share the Good News of Christmas through several cantata presentations. The High School and Middle School have been practicing since August to present “Sing We Now of Christmas.” They have been a busy bunch, presenting their choir ensemble to four different audiences! After sharing with our mission community and presenting at our Christmas Outreach, the choir held a special Christmas cantata at Iglesia Misionera during their English Service. They also traveled to Colegio Hosanna and sang to their student body during their end of school year program (Peruvian schools hold school from March to December). The cantata was absolutely beautiful and we are so proud of these kids giving the glory to God through their amazing voices. The video can’t do their voices justice but I hope you enjoy a little bit of their performance.
I hope that your December is full of joy and love just as our SAM Academy’s December has been! Amidst the busy holiday preparations however, slow down, pour yourself that extra cup of coffee, or tea if that is your jam, sit in front of the lit up tree and in that moment of pause, allow your heart to be filled with the remembrance of the TRUE significance of Christmas: God putting aside complete limitlessness to be bound in the form of a human baby so He could live and walk alongside His very creation, right up to the cross of Salvation. There is no Merrier Christmas than that!
Family of 4 Serving 1 