When I was a little boy, everything about Christmas seemed magical and miraculous: the enchantment of gifts under the tree, the excitement of holiday baked goodies coming out of the oven, the thrill of lights and pageants and surprises. But as I grew older, Christmas began to lose its appeal. I thought I was too sophisticated for it.

Truly, Christmas has always been about the miraculous. After all, a virgin girl conceiving, angels bursting out of heaven to speak to humans, and a unique star appearing to guide the wealthy foreign travelers to the baby were nothing short of miraculous. And then consider the fact that the God of the Universe had drawn near!

If you lose sight of the miracles of Christmas, you’ll end up trying desperately to replace their divine wonder with frantic shopping and festivities. It won’t matter how hard you try to create a “magical Christmas” if the awe of the true Christmas miracles has faded. Return to the Bible with wide eyes, seeing the marvelous simplicity of Christmas: that Immanuel came to be with us.