The Fear Nots of Christmas
What’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word “Christmas?” For some, Christmas is a time of frustration, anxiety, and too much to do. For others, it brings sadness—holidays emphasize when someone is missing. For many, Christmas fosters two words we hear most at Christmastime: Joy and Peace. Joy, because Christmas is a day for memories and family. Peace, because the wintery season suggests hearth and home and warm traditions. The true story of Christmas suggests something far greater. Woven throughout the story are two words we don’t often hear at Christmas—two words that are the heart and message of Christmas. The words: “Fear not.” Four times, an angel announced the coming of Christ. Three individuals were told not to fear before He came. When the announcement that He had come was given to shepherds, an angel, surrounded by the glory of the Lord, caused them to fall on their faces in fear. They, along with “all people” (Luke 2:10), were also told
