Oh, joy to the world, it is finally Christmas time again! We love this opportunity to celebrate – any excuse for a party and this one lasts for a whole month!! Each of us have our own unique ways of extolling the hope and joy this holiday brings. For us, it once again begins with simplicity. How thankful we are that we can share in this celebration without having to submit to the bondage of over-commitment and stress. It is difficult though and we have made a deliberate attempt at keeping it simple this year. You see, it hasn’t always been that way…. If the truth is known, there are too many wasted years in the past where the Christmas party in our hearts was replaced with a pity party. There was the loneliness of an empty nest and/or an empty heart, too many empty hours spent on the job instead of with those who desire our presence – not just our presents, and then, of course, too much money spent on gifts that were not as appreciated as we had hoped – bought on credit or with money from an account that was empty also. Not this year though, there will be no more emptiness for us. Since it is a new Christmas season, we have the opportunity to start over and do it “right” this year! Now if we could just figure out what is “right” for us….
Our family has chosen a more simple Christmas this year. We have intentionally said “no thank you, not this year” to some of the rituals and gatherings. We began our celebrating with decorating our tree. There are so many ornaments that bring with them so many memories. We also took a lunch break while decorating and watched one of our favorite family Christmas movies, The Polar Express. (Don’t forget the hot chocolate….) We do enjoy the warm glow of the lights and the warmth of a fire in the fireplace – even though this year we have gas logs. We are also focusing on the true meaning of Christmas, not just traditions, but on the One who instituted Christmas through His birth in a lowly manger. He was the first Christmas gift and we have chosen to accept His gift! We are reminded of this “gift” and sing of it through Christmas carols. Probably one of our most loved Christmas traditions remains the music. We love singing Christmas carols together, listening to them on the radio in our van, and playing our CDs 
throughout the day in our home. Music seems to lift our spirits and causes our hearts to rejoice. “Mary Did You Know” by Mark Lowry and “Oh Holy Night” are just a couple of our favorites Christmas carols. Our son, Joey, would say not to forget “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and Uncle Tom would encourage us to listen to Mannheim Steamroller. We all are as different as the music to which we enjoy listening. However, have you ever heard someone else humming, singing or whistling a tune and a few minutes later find yourself humming the same song? If we have a song in our heart, it can be “contagious”! Sometimes our song is calming, soft, and slow while at other times our heart’s song is loud and joyous. The point is to keep the music flowing all year long. Whatever our heart song is today, we still long to spread love and cheer wherever we go. Remember, even if you “can’t carry a tune in a bucket,” you can still “make a joyful noise”! So let us wish you a Merry Christmas and encourage you with the words to an older Christmas song by Larnelle Harris that still speaks volumes today – if we will just take the time to listen:
And shouted, Dad, have no fear
As I stretched high to store the stockings and trim
In the attic for another year
We were busily packing our Christmas away
While singing a carol we knew
When I heard my son in innocence inquire
Do we store away Jesus too
How He gave to the world the gift of new life
When His yearning became Mary’s child
Though surrounded by all of man’s goods we embrace
The hope of that Bethlehem night
We will never store this blessed gift away
With the tinsel and colored lights
(Chorus)
All year long
We must worship day by day
All year long
Tis the season to obey
May the Christmas tree lights
And the sleigh rides at night
Remind us all to stay in God’s presence
All year long
