For far too many, Christmas is a burden and not a blessing. Think about the people involved in the first Christmas — Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. These people didn’t make special plans for the occasion. Mary and Joseph had taxes to pay, the shepherds were busy caring for their sheep, and the wise men had their own work to do. When Jesus came on the scene, the ordinary became something special. His presence made all the difference.

Instead of seeing Christmas as just another holiday or a day off work, let’s make it a day where Jesus becomes our honored Guest. He is the One who makes the occasion special. If we make Him the Object of our celebration, this could change the way we celebrate His visit. It could change our wish lists into thank-you lists. We might even invite more people over to celebrate His visit.

This may go against some of your favorite Christmas traditions, but think of all the disappointment and stress we would avoid if we changed the way we saw this day. Remember: Christmas comes but once a year. Make the Christmas Guest the center of your celebration.