Holidays or Holydays?

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Especially after a divisive election season (Let’s just quit talking about it already). There is a certain excitement, energy and camaraderie around a national holiday. A common interest enables us to drop our animosity and connect to others. Hearts and hands working for a common cause.

But is Christmas a holiday or a Holyday? What is the difference?

One letter.

i or y

That one letter makes a big difference.

Please take a minute and go there with me. In the middle of holiday is the letter I. I asks the following questions: What do I want? What do I get? What’s in this holiday for me, myself and I? Am I happy? Am I comfortable? Holiday centers on I.

Holyday, Holy day.

Holyday, on the other hand, asks a different set of questions …

Y, God, do love us so much?

Y did you send Jesus to tabernacle among us?

Y are You so good to us?

Y did you choose us to be your children?

Holyday centers us on God and His goodness.

Holiday is fun, but it’s only skin deep. It appeals to the 5 senses but doesn’t make a deeper appeal to the heart.

Holidays	Holydays
Fun	Joy
Jolly	Jesus
Feasting	Fulfilling
Presents	Presence
Gifts	Grace

While I love the fun of holidays (the cookies, the parties, the caroling), I need the depth of Holydays to satisfy my heart and fill my spirit.

Do a little holiday experiment and listen to the Holiday/Holyday music below.

Now listen to Josh Groban’s version of O Holy Night.

Did you feel the difference? O Holy Night wrecks me every time I hear it. Can’t say the same about Jingle Bell Rock. Holidays are fun, but they need to be a part of the more important Holyday.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

What can you do to help your family put holy back into holiday?

Watch the Nativity Story with family or friends.
Take a night time walk through your neighborhood and pray for your neighbors.
Read the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke.
Make Christmas cookies and share them with a person who needs the love of Christ.
Click on the following link for more ideas. 8 Ways to Center on Christ at Christmas

Let me know your ideas and thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Happy Holidays and Happy Holydays!