Christmas is a time to get together with family and friends. Getting connected is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and others. It turns out that being connected, is a key to living a longer and healthier life, according to much research about the Blue Zones by Dan Buettner. The Blue Zones are areas in the world that have the longest-living people that also have good health, many that are centurions, which is people living to be 100 and over in good health. Harvard researcher Professor Lisa Beckman discovered that those with the most social connections lived the longest. Those with the fewest connections over the nine-year study were 2 – 3 times more likely to die. Are you invited out, but are always squirreling away your time by yourself? Perhaps you always have a reason why you can’t go. Maybe think twice and join in. Christmas is the perfect time to make connections. If you say, yea, but I’m not a social butterfly, don’t worry, you don’t have to be, but instead of keeping to yourself you can start to be more friendly to people you come in contact with, the teller at the bank, the cashier at the grocery store, and the postmaster. A bit of small talk can go a long way in creating connections and building friendships. For those that don’t have issues with social connections, Christmas is a great time, to reach out and spread the cheer and reconnect. If we truly understand the reason for the season, then we know that we have a lot to be cheerful about. God humbled himself, and came to the earth as a little baby, born to a virgin, and laid in a manger, to one day in his future, rescue, save, deliver, and ransom back His creation, us. This act is the greatest Christmas gift ever. To fully receive His great gift to us, all He asks is that we believe and receive it. The words from Isaiah 9:6 are unchanging and they transcend all circumstances.
“For unto us a Child is born,
to us a child is given,
and the government shall be upon his shoulders.
And his name shall be,
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
These words were prophesied about 700 years before Jesus was born. He came to give us the most important connection. The connection to bring us back to Him, and to others, through His great love for us. The Christmas story is that Jesus is the reason for the season. God was born as the baby Jesus. Wise men still seek Him, and He will be found by those that diligently seek connection with Him. That my friend, is a very good reason to have a Merry Christmas.