And the soul felt its worth.

It has become a Christmas tradition for my younger brother and I to attend the Christmas Eve Service at the Lutheran church in town.....and giggle through the entire service. Sometimes there's a good reason for our jolly laughter, and other times it just happens.

Last night's service was no different from any other. From the beginning to the end, we stifled our laughter, shook the pew, and elbowed the other in the ribs. (Yes, we are 20 and 23 years old). However, as the choir sang, "Oh Holy Night" I had a moment of serious reflection.

No matter where I am, each Christmas I am reminded what Christmas is truly about, as I am sure you are. It is not about presents. Or Santa Claus. Or cookies. Or Christmas movies and lights and decorations. This may offend you, and I apologize, but the essence of Christmas is not about family. It is not about church services. It is not about friendly gatherings. These are all great, and they are branches of the "Christmas tree", but let me remind you once again, the root of Christmas is about a gift of love, sent from a loving God to a suffering world. Sent from a loving God, to a suffering you and a suffering me.

Back to "Oh Holy Night". My favorite line has always been this one:

Long lay the world, in sin and error pining. 'Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoicing!

'Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. This gift of love reminds us what we are worth. Our soul, the who in Who am I? Christmas is about God telling you personally, that you are worthy of the gift of Jesus Christ.

We mean so much to God, that he gave us his most beloved son (John 3:16) to live a life of 33 years experiencing our joys, our pains, our happy times, our sorrow, and most importantly to tell us that we are worth saving!

Which is why the branches of the Christmas tree are very important as well as the root. Does not your soul feel its worth when you are loved by your friends? Does not your soul feel its worth when you are surrounded by your neighbors at a church service? Does not your soul feel its worth when you have a family, no matter what kind of family, that accepts you and loves you for who you are? My soul felt its worth in the form of an elbow to my giggling ribs.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)

God gave us an unmatchable gift of love that night in Bethlehem. We reflect that gift when we love each other. When we experience joy, peace, and the thrill of hope for the One who has come and the One who is to come. Merry Christmas, may your soul feel its worth.