The Sacrifice of Christmas

Christmas is a story of courage.

This is going to be my first Christmas away from home, my parents, and all my brothers and sisters. And I admit it is going to be difficult. Like other families, the Curleys have some deep rooted traditions that have an unfaltering way of filling you with holiday cheer, including Bing Crosby’s crooning carols, the nativity scene, decorations, and the delicious meal Christmas morning.

But missing out on the Christmas celebrations I am accustomed to turns my focus toward another aspect of the season that I often forget. The Christmas story is one of sacrifice and courage. Amidst the Gloria of the angels and the visit of the magi, we are faced with the cold reality that Christ was born in a manger, that He fled to Egypt to avoid Herod’s wrath, and that hundreds of infants were massacred in His place. We received the Savior of the world amid chaos and loss.

While I am saddened that I cannot be with my family this Christmas, it helps me turn toward the baby Jesus born in a manger. I think of Mary and Joseph. I think of all those mothers who lost their precious infants. And I realize that every Christmas has a sense of loss. Loved ones pass away, we grow older and are reminded of our own mortality, yet the miracle of Christ’s birth remains. Considering these things, I believe that this year, in some small way, I have a better understanding of the sacrifice of Christmas, and the promise of eternity that it brings.