“What is Christmas? It is the tenderness of the past, courage for the present, and hope for the future.”
We’ve travelled through time and reached a time in the 18th Century. It was the century known for violence. Coupes, revolts, revolutions, war filled the land as people lived their lives in fear and trembling. The earth smelled of blood, brother against brother, nation against nation, there were no peace to be found, no love found.
At this time, the people celebrated Christmas. They celebrated the birth of the Messiah, they celebrated what the baby bought to this world, and they celebrated what their hearts desired. For them Christmas was hope. Because that’s what their hearts were longing for.
Every sword drawn, every drop of blood shed, ever canon fired, every wall that fell, every army that collapsed, all that the people desired was hope. Because they searched for it everywhere, and they found it in that manger. The thing they were looking for, was placed in that manger for them. They looked at the wisemen, the shepherds, bowing down and gifting him with the greatest of gifts. And they desired it, they longed with all their heart that they could have what that baby bought to the world.
Every family that celebrated Christmas was in a state of uncertainty. 364 days of their lives they lived in fear of dying, in fear of losing a loved one. But on that one day, on the eve of the glorious day, they forgot everything, they shut down their doors and joined in their homes, along with their family, around the fire place, they would dine together, they would sing carols, they would enjoy the one who was born and at that moment, they forgot everything, they ignored the flying spears, they ignored the crumbling cities, they ignored the falling empires, because all they focused on was family and Christ.
Many houses had sons who went for war, and Christmas was the time they could return home. As every family gathered, they had their ears on the door, waiting for that knock, the knock of their beloved son, their beloved husband, their dear brother returning home. They had two reasons to celebrate Christmas. The baby’s birth and the sons return. Oh! What joy would fill the house, they would be together one moment, forgetting everything, hugging their dear ones, sharing stories of how their lives would one day get better. About how their lives would be Christmas-like everyday. About how they could live together in perfect peace and harmony. They dreamed of such a day on that night. For them, Christmas was all about hope. It’s what took them forward, it’s what made them celebrate.
For the 18th Century Christians, Christmas was hope.