The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This is the first time for all of us to celebrate Christmas outside of the United States. Although I was still living in Spain in December 2005, I was back in the U.S. for Christmas, so it didn’t feel that different. Thailand, though, is a completely different story.

One of the reasons it doesn’t feel “Christmasy” here is that it is still 80 degrees most days. The early mornings and late evenings get a bit cooler, but on the whole it still feels like a warm September in Indiana. I know that cold weather in December doesn’t happen in most of the world, but for Hoosiers, cold weather and snowy landscapes go hand-in-hand with Christmas.

Another reason is that seeing Christmas decorations is unusual, not expected. Some stores have Christmas decorations, but most houses and streets don’t show any signs of the Christmas season. We do have some decorations up in our home, although it is not much in comparison to what we would have done in Indiana.

Small Family Christmas Tree

While it feels strange to us to still be wearing shorts and sandals in December and to not see Christmas lights as we drive down the road, it has been a good reminder for me about what Christmas really is. So many of the things that I associate with Christmas are not actually necessary at all. Christmas decorations, snow, carols, and cut-out cookies are all really nice; however, none of them are essential in order to celebrate Christmas.

Not having as many of the “extra” Christmas traditions has helped me focus more on the birth of Christ. I’ve thought more about the sacrifices that Mary and Joseph made in order to help bring Immanuel into the world. I’ve reconsidered why Christmas is my favorite time of year: If I never had snow or family nearby for Christmas, would I still want to celebrate Christ’s birth? Am I excited about the familiar, happy traditions, or the moment when the Word was made flesh and forever changed our relationship with the Father?

Don’t worry, we’ve still had several of the familiar traditions. We had the other interns and fellows over to our house to decorate cookies, watch Christmas movies, and drink hot cocoa. We also had a church Christmas party, complete with a Christmas play. We will also get to be with my mom for Christmas Day, which will be an extra-special treat!

IJM Chiang Mai Interns, Fellows, and Families

We wish each of you a very merry Christmas, and hope that you are surrounded by people that you love. But if you are not, may you still feel the love of the One who sacrificed his Son to bring you closer to Him. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!