Why We Still Need the Wonder of Christmas by Catherine Campbell

As we begin the Advent season, we’re delighted to share a heartfelt reflection from author Catherine Campbell. In this moving piece, she invites us to rediscover the true wonder of Christmas, not in the trappings of the season, but in the God who draws near to us, even in our deepest grief.

You can read Catherine’s full Advent reflection below.

There’s something quite magical about Vienna, with its horse-driven carriages clip-clopping through beautiful streets. Charm and culture everywhere you look. Side-streets offer lunchtime concerts in quaint churches, whereas city centre parks lure you to sit awhile surrounded by nature. A stone’s throw away stands the Spanish Riding School – home of the famous Lipizzaner Stallions.

Or if you fancy a coffee, you can do it in style while soaking in Austria’s history at the Café Central. But there was one place that enthralled me during one short afternoon in Vienna, before heading to speak at a ladies’ retreat in the mountains . . . the all-year Christmas shop!

Yes, you heard right. But this was a Christmas shop like no other. No tack within its walls. No gaudy music or inappropriate stock. It was simply quite wonderful, even though Christmas was still seven months away.

Soft classical music quietly played in the background, setting an ambience of something special. Beautiful hand-carved Mary and Joseph figurines, with their sidekicks of stable animals, oriental kings, shepherds and angels – not forgetting baby Jesus – paved the way to an Aladdin’s cave of hanging decorations of every shape and colour sparkling under bright lights. I was transported back to a place of childhood memories, where life was good and excitement high.

It was truly a place of wonder.

However, it’s unfortunate that seasonal wonder tends to be more about how we dress Christmas rather than what should truly amaze us. When we concentrate on the accessories – however well-intentioned we are in using them – the awe is quickly lost by the prevailing circumstances of life. Christmas, as we often practice it, is easily tarnished and true joy is replaced by a temporary happiness or lack of it.

I have often heard it said that “Christmas isn’t the same anymore since his or her seat at the table is now empty”, or, “Christmas is only for the children. Now they’ve grown things have changed”. Worse still is “I can’t be bothered with all that fuss”, but then that could merely be the echo of disappointment, sorrow, or apathy. I understand those feelings.

When our firstborn died a mere 10 days before Christmas, I thought I would never enjoy Christmas again. Cheryl’s ten short years were far from easy at times and the promise of Heaven for her kept me sane during that time. But when her death became a reality it felt like the light had gone out and grief became a cloak I wrapped around myself every day.  A garment I went no-where without.

However, with two other children in our home we celebrated that first Christmas without our darling Cheryl as best we could. But everything was different, right down to the number of ‘santa’ gifts under the tree. And the specially made chair, shaped to hold her frail body, stared mockingly at me from the corner of the room – as empty as my heart.

But Cheryl had left me a gift that I discovered would never tarnish. It’s value only increased with the years we had her with us, and have continued to bless my life since her passing. What gift could a child, who couldn’t walk, talk, see or sing, ever give? Surely her life only brought sorrow and disappointment? Of course, sorrow and disappointment were included in the mix of human emotions, but Cheryl’s gift helped me to look beyond all of that to see Jesus.

You see, that precious gift was Cheryl herself. She pointed me to an exploration of who God really is? My pain, my questions, my confusion, could only be healed, helped or set aside, by understanding more of the character of the One who had permitted this to happen to our precious child and to us as a family. I was not disappointed. Rather, I discovered in Jesus who God the Father is, and His deep love for humanity, and especially for His children.

The suffering question hardens many hearts and robs us of the true joy of Christmas, the truth that “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14). That’s where the wonder is. That before the earth was even formed Jesus agreed with the Father and the Spirit that He would come to earth, as a human baby, and die thirty-three years later for love of each of us who have rejected God. He, Jesus, was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,” (Revelation 13:8).

You want wonder? Then choose to think on this . . .

Jesus . . .

• chose the confines of a woman’s womb over the vastness of space and the enormity of eternity . . . for us.
• left heaven’s splendour for a humble home in a small town . . . for us.
• was taught carpentry by a surrogate father, even though He had flung the stars into space . . . for us.
• gave up perfection to experience ridicule, rejection, pain and death . . . for us.
• took the punishment for our sin in His own body on the cross . . . for us.
• defeated death and hell by rising from the dead . . . so that life eternal can be experienced . . . by us.

This is why we still need the wonder of Christmas. For in it we see the compassionate heart of the Father, the obedient love of the Son, and the promise of the Holy Spirit. Calvary could never have happened without the Babe of Bethlehem. Heaven can never be ours if we choose trappings over truth. 

Don’t allow the enemy of your soul to rob you of the wonder of the incarnation. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). That’s an absolute – a truth you can bank your life on.

Life may change but Christmas in the true sense of the word never will.

The year after Cheryl’s death was tough but as Christmas came around I was ready to celebrate once more. Yes, there were tears, but what she left behind reminded me that I can’t do life without Jesus. He is the wonder of Christmas. His presence is my greatest gift.

I wrote Journey With Me Through Christmas, not because I want you to follow me, but as an invitation to follow Jesus and to get to know His journey more intimately. As you do, you’ll glimpse His glory and be filled with more wonder than a human heart can bear.

If Catherine’s story encouraged you, you can explore her full 25-day devotional Journey With Me Through Christmas, written to help you slow down, reflect and encounter Jesus afresh this Advent.