It's the holidays- one of my most favorite times of year. I love everything about this season -- the lights, the candy, the shopping ,the music, the wrapping, family, friends, Jesus' birth - every aspect of Christmas I embrace fully.
Tis the Season -- to think of family. My family is scattered - brothers in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina. We never get together. Our parents have been deceased for more than 30 years - we don't have a 'home' to meet in unless they come to mine. My girls are scattered -- one in Arizona, two in Washington - our younger two children are here locally and we get to spend time with them. We always go to my husbands's parents on Christmas day and spend time there.
Til the Season -- for giving. Everyone always exchanges gifts. I love to create little gifts and give to my co-workers. This year I made chocolate spoons. I will also be giving some to some neighbors. We give gifts to our family. We give of ourselves to help others in whatever way we can.
Tis the Season - of candy! That's right, candy. It is everywhere. This is the time of year that people tend to to do their Holiday baking or candy making. Treats galore will be prepared and shared with various people. I used to make a lot of Christmas candy, peanut butter bon-bons, toffee, coconut joys, cinnamon candy, napolean creams - oh it makes my mouth water. I no longer do so. We don't need it.There is no way we can eat all that; although we would certainly make a valiant attempt to do so.
Tis the Season - of music. I love Christmas music. You may not know this about me but I listen to Christmas music all year long. If listening to CD's I always have one CD of Christmas music. Put it on shuffle and about every fourth song will be a Christmas song. I love all of them from Frosty and Rudolph to God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. A few years ago I got a new favorite, Gotta Get Up (It's Christmas Morning). Take time to listen to it - you will love it.
Tis the Season -- of lights!! Christmas lights abound at our house. Every tree is loaded with lights. Our big tree in the living room I have been told has 16 strands of 100 lights each on it. We have a tree in the living room, in the dining room and in two of the bedrooms. We have lights outside the house and a large 10 foot tree in the front yard that is covered with lights. We leave all these on 24 hours a day. When we went to bed the other night I remarked "Christmas sure is bright!"
Tis the Season -- for movie watching. Well at our house anyway. My favorite movie of all time is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I love this movie!! I watch it year round. If I could work the remote easier I would watch it more frequently when I am home by myself. We have started a tradition of Christmas Vacation Movie Night. We have friends in and watch the movie. I don't know which part we like the best - the movie or just having our friends in.
But probably the most important Tis the Season -- Jesus. We celebrate Christmas because of Jesus' birth. He was born in a manager - raised by a carpenter - became King of Men - Shepherd to us - our Comforter - our Redeemer. He died to give us life!! Why would we not want to celebrate his birth? I have a collection of natvity sets at my house. I put these in every room I can arrange one in as a reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. Some are larger - some are small and simple. One of my favorite ones is the one we bought when we were in Israel. A favorite book of myolder girls as small chidlren was called The Animals Christmas Eve. It tells of the animals gathering in the barn on Christmas Eve and telling the story of Jesus' birth from the viewpoint of the animals.
I just want to encourage eveyone as you go through your traditions of 'Tis the Season' don't forget
JESUS IS THE REASON
