Deflated Santa
December 30, 2009 - 11:41pm — greenwayj
How do you feel as you approach the end the journey to Christmas? Exhilarated or exhausted? The weeks that have led up to Christmas have all the potential to make us tired and weary…weak and empty…wilted and drained…kind of like this guy…
Have you ever felt that way? I have—and if I am honest, it is hard to be happy and jolly all the time. Isn’t he just like us? We run and run and run…we try to keep ourselves inflated with all kinds of cultural expectations—and sometimes, we forget God's intention and design Before long, we end up deflated—a mere shell of the charade we put on for everyone else. This picture was sent to me by a friend of mine. He was driving to his office one morning last week and did a double-take. He went back later and stopped to take the picture when the woman of the house came running out. She apologized—indicating that he was on a timer, and she did not know how to inflate him. He told her that sometimes he felt like an inflatable Santa during the Christmas season. She started to cry and said that she felt that way, too. My friend told her not to worry because he knew that, at the right time, she would find a way to get herself “pumped up” and be ready—we almost always do. Then he told her the really good news—that after the timer is unplugged and the Santa is put back in the box in storage—he’ll be replaced with a brand new Baby Boy that would change the world—and that would be the ultimate gift. If you have come to the end of the journey to Christmas feeling deflated, let me give you a word of advice: Don't mistake the Messiah. The One who saves us is not wrapped in paper and bow and found under our tree. He is not lighted or inflated on our yards. He is so far removed from the way many of us celebrate this season. God sent his Son into the world born of woman who…"...wrapped him in clothes and laid in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7) His name is Jesus—and He came for you. Don’t settle for a false or inflated Messiah. Accept and follow the Real Deal.
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