Faith & Values | Making room for God at Christmas

December is one of my favorite months. This is the month Christians celebrate the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem. Christians believe that Jesus was God's son and the one through whom we have eternal life. Certainly the Savior of the world was worthy of all the best earth had to offer. Yet he was not born in a palace, but in a stable because there was no room available in the local hotels of Bethlehem.

The theme, no room for God, is one we need to remember as we make the mad dash to the Christmas finish line. It is tempting to fill these last days buying last-minute gifts, attending parties and, if time allows, squeezing in a Christmas Eve service.

But, if our to-do list is so filled with special activities that there is little time to reflect on God's precious gift to the world, then we have missed the reason for the season.

I also like December because this is the month I celebrate my birth. There are some challenges being born around Christmas. Birthdays of Christmas babies tend to get lost in all the holiday cheer and discarded wrapping paper. Nevertheless, my birthday is still significant to me. Happy birthday to all those Christmas babies!

December is also special because of the winter solstice. This weekend, we will experience the longest night and the shortest day. The winter solstice is important to me because, oddly enough, I love daylight. I delight in seeing the days get longer.

I know starting tomorrow, or thereabout, each day will incrementally get longer. On the longest night, I am reminded that there is a limit to the darkest days of our lives. No matter what challenge comes our way, life can get better.

Like the days that immediately follow the solstice, change or improvements in life are often so incremental that they are hardly noticeable. During the next couple of weeks, we may not notice that the days are getting longer. But toward the end of January we will see 30 more minutes of daylight.

Soon we will be contemplating that interminable New Year's resolution of losing weight. We may begin the year with great enthusiasm, but losing 2 pounds seems inconsequential when one has 30-plus pounds to lose. Yet 2 pounds a week can make a world of difference in three months.

Baby steps that lead to healing and wholeness may also seem inconsequential in the beginning. Yet, those steps can greatly improve our health and the quality of life within a short amount of time. We just have to believe in ourselves and have the will to succeed.

Most people are generally in better spirits this time of the year. Although family budgets are much tighter this year, we will try to find a few dollars to spend on gifts for loved ones. It is possible to be happy during the holidays and not spend any money. We may just have to be more creative.

We hear a lot about peace during the month of December — peace on Earth and goodwill to men and women. The theme of peace is sung in Christmas carols and is a prominent design on holiday cards.

I believe peace must begin within each of us. When we are at peace with ourselves, we can offer authentic peace to our neighbors. Peace within begins by accepting our strengths and our weaknesses. When we are honest about ourselves, we are apt to be more accepting of others.

There is so much to enjoy in December. The energy of the season is palpable. Remember to make room for those things that really matter — family, friends, and God. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

The Rev. Patricia L. Hunter is an associate in ministry at Mount Zion Baptist Church and an employee-benefits specialist for American Baptist Churches in the USA. Readers may send feedback to faithcolumns@seattletimes.com