The Wonder of the Season

You know, my wife Valerie has a Christmas decoration obsession.  She loves decorating for Christmas and finding unique decorations. She sent me a photo last week.  She was driving home, and she sent a selfie of herself in the car, with Mary, Joseph and Jesus strapped into the seat in the back.  She had found a big plastic lit blow mold of the Nativity scene, and she was thrilled! 

The look on Valerie's face was pure, unfiltered joy. Her eyes were sparkling, her smile stretched from ear to ear, and she was glowing brighter than those plastic figures did in our yard that night. In that moment, watching her excitement over this simple find, I witnessed something beautiful: childlike wonder in its purest form.  Here was a grown woman, a successful professional, getting absolutely giddy over a plastic Christmas decoration.

Watching Valerie's reaction reminded me immediately of something Jesus said in Matthew 18:3: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Jesus wasn't talking about being immature or naive. He was talking about exactly what I saw in Valerie – the ability to find genuine wonder and joy in simple things.  Children don't need elaborate productions to be amazed. They can find magic in a cardboard box, adventure in their backyard, and wonder in the smallest discoveries. They approach life with open hearts, ready to be delighted by what adults often dismiss as ordinary or insignificant. 

Jesus valued this childlike heart so much that He made it a requirement for entering God's kingdom. Why? Because when we approach God with that same openness, that same capacity for wonder, that same ability to find joy in simple gifts, we're positioned to receive what He wants to give us. Valerie's excitement over her blow mold nativity wasn't just cute – it was actually modeling the kind of heart posture Jesus calls us to have.

So here's my challenge for you this Christmas season: start looking for your own "blow mold moments." What simple things around you are waiting to bring you joy if you'll just approach them with childlike wonder?  Maybe it's the way the Christmas lights look reflected in your coffee cup in the morning. Maybe it's hearing your favorite Christmas song come on the radio unexpectedly. Maybe it's watching your kids or grandkids get excited about decorating cookies, even if they're lopsided and covered in too much frosting. 

These moments are everywhere, but we miss them when we're too focused on creating the perfect Christmas experience. We miss them when we're stressed about getting everything just right. We miss them when we've lost our capacity for simple wonder.  This week, find genuine delight in small discoveries. Look for those moments when something simple makes your heart light up.

And may you all have a Very Merry Christmas!

~Pastor Todd Creason