Christmastime is finally upon us!! I look forward to Christmas all year long! I love everything about Christmas- the decorating, the music, the food, and the Story. The Christmas Story is one of my favorites and I love how this holiday is centered around a story about a tiny baby :)
When I was younger we used to go to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church. We would hear the Christmas story, sing carols and hymns and sit in awe of how beautiful our church was lit by candlelight, the golden glow touching the holly and the greens hung on the windows and the altar. Afterward, we'd rush home in the cold and take baths, then we'd snuggle up and watch A Christmas Carol, the one with George C. Scott as Mr. Scrooge. My grandfather LOVES that movie, and I admit I do too :) It wouldn't be Christmas Eve without it. Even though we don't attend that church anymore, the memories of the candlelight service stay with me.
It is SO important to be with family at Christmastime. When I was living in DC, my house was empty most of the time because my roommates were hardly ever home. I decorated our little house with puny decorations, put up a Charlie Brown tree and hung our stockings, all by myself. And it was miserable. There was no music, no family, no logs burning the fireplace, the tree lit up with lights and ornaments. I was so upset all that season. I moved back home to Richmond shortly thereafter because you can only live without family for so long.
The main thing to remember at Christmastime is that we are all family and we need to take care of one another. In my community we have the Christmas Mother program, which supplies struggling and needy families in my community with food, clothes and toys for Christmas. If you can, check and see if there are any programs like that in your area and help out if you can. Every little bit helps make someone's Christmas a merry one.
The Gift is what's in your heart, friends, not what's in your hands. I hope I don't sound preachy. It's just that Christmas is a great time to get to know God again, and maybe make some room in your heart, the way the innkeeper made room in the inn.
Merrily yours,
Nay
No comments:
Post a Comment