Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”
–Washington Irving
“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”
–Roy L. Smith
Come on, get out some of the Christmas songs. Whether they be secular or Christian, play them. Let the bells ring, at least in your heart. What a joyous time!
But that brings me to an interesting thought. I happened to be reading some comments on Facebook about Christmas. It went something like this. Since I’ve become older Christmas just isn’t as much fun. Maybe I should have put fun in quotation marks — “fun.” What do they mean by “fun”?
Now I usually do not leave comments, but just had to this time. I remarked, “Nah, it’s more fun.” This is a grand, “fun” time of year. Lights, presents, glitter, cookies, pies, friends, family, carols, did I say ‘pie’? — this time of the year is fun.
To me, it is definitely more fun. Sure maybe the excitement of a kid is no longer there. I don’t run down to the tree on Christmas morning, but I enjoy getting up, making coffee, putting a fire in the fireplace and waiting for our traditional breakfast. Or, staying in bed and ignoring the cries of the kids to “get up”.
To me, it is so enjoyable to see the smiles on the faces of the grandkids as they pass out the presents, and then when they begin to open them. Hey, it doesn’t stop there, I like to open mine as well.
It’s fun to give a secret gift to my wife. Don’t know what that might be this year–maybe just sitting next to me. It’s fun sitting around the table to feast on the bounty that the Lord has allowed us to have. Nope, this ol’ fence post just can’t understand why these folk would say Christmas just isn’t that much fun.
The older I become, the more I understand the reason for the season. The more the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke become a realization in my heart. The more my soul just wants to say “WOW!” this is just amazing.
Sure I understand that this is a time of year when some become depressed, some mourn the loss of family or friends no longer there. My Mom has been gone for a few years now, but I don’t get down-and-out at Christmas because she is not here, I remember with a smile how much she enjoyed Christmas. Those that do get depressed have lost the hope of Christmas and taken their eyes off the Light that was given to the earth on that day.
Guess if they want to get in the mullygrubs and say that Christmas just isn’t that much fun anymore that’s their business. Me, well, I’ve been given another year-and-a-half and all of the family should be home for Christmas.
“God, who gave our forefathers many different glimpses of the truth in the words of the prophets, has now, at the end of the present age, given us the truth in the Son. Through the Son God made the whole universe, and to the Son he has ordained that all creation shall ultimately belong. This Son, radiance of the glory of God, flawless expression of the nature of God, himself the upholding principle of all that is, effected in person the reconciliation between God and man and then took his seat at the right hand of the majesty on high—thus proving himself, by the more glorious name that he has won, far greater than all the angels of God.”
–Hebrews 1:1-2 (Phillips)