“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests’.”
Luke 2:8-14



Christmas tends to change through the years. Obviously, Christmas itself doesn’t change. It’s the same day on the calendar every year. There are decorations that stay the same. Perhaps you have a stocking that you’ve hung up for years or an ornament that’s been on your tree longer than you can remember. Maybe your outdoor decorations have remained unchanged for years. We have specific window wreathes on the front of our house that I think we first started using on our previous house. My wife begrudgingly allowed me one inflatable in the yard, so Frosty flies every year at the Sirmans’ home. (Although, I think she has become rather sentimental towards that Frosty as time has passed.) Certainly, many aspects of Christmas remain constant through the years. 

However, other parts of Christmas change. The change is gradual at first and then begins to pick up pace. We have experienced and are experiencing the changes of Christmas in our stage of life. Our girls are getting married. (2 down. 1 to go. Send money.) That means they have other families to consider at Christmas. It also means some are living farther and farther away and can’t always make it home for Christmas Day. Sometimes it means more travel. Sometimes it means Christmas traditions are celebrated on days other than Christmas. Sometimes it just means Christmas is a little bit quieter than in years past. And yes, we are expecting our first grandchild soon after Christmas. Reputable sources have told me that Christmas REALLY changes when there’s a grandchild in the mix.

The comfort we can have in the midst of changes is that Christmas comes to find us wherever we are. Whether we’re having the Christmas filled with traditions that we’re used to celebrating, or whether Christmas has changed. Whether we’re in a house full of people hearing loud laughter and bumping into each other, or whether the house is quiet. Whether Christmas is as we expected, or whether it’s not as we had hoped. Christmas comes to all of us.

Two thousand years ago, Christmas came to wise men and kings. It came to older people like Zechariah and Elizabeth and Simeon. It came to a teenage girl who would be the mother of Jesus. 

And it came to shepherds who were out in the field. They were just doing their job. They weren’t affluent or well-known. They weren’t even liked very much by the government they were under or even some of their own people. They were as common as you can find, unremarkable in every way. But on that first Christmas night, they had front row seats to the greatest concert earth has ever experienced.

First one angel then a million singing and declaring “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” They proclaimed “good news that will cause great joy for all the people,” which reminds me, if the gospel we say we believe isn’t “good news that will cause great joy for all the people,” maybe we aren’t sharing the gospel of Jesus, but I digress. 

No matter what type of Christmas you’re having this year, Christ has come for you. The good news of Christmas is just as real for you this year as it ever has been. Maybe the Christmas you celebrate this year isn’t quite the Christmas you want. Maybe you aren’t with all of the people you long to be with. Christ is still present. The joy of Christmas can still be found, and never forget that it is “good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Guess what. You’re included in “all the people.” On this day, in your Christmas, Christ has come to bring joy to you. 

Merry Christmas,

Ken Sirmans