Merry Christmas

Five days ago, I wrote the following note to include in our Christmas cards:

In mid-November I thought I was in good shape for Christmas this year. I had the hardest part of the holiday almost done – deciding what to buy for everyone on my list. I knew I was going to do the Black Friday craziness with my mom and sisters so I’d buy most of the gifts then. Life was good.

Life is still good, but here it is 6 days till Christmas and I’m finally getting around to sending Christmas cards. The shopping is done but none of the gifts are wrapped. The tree is up but it is not decorated yet, and neither is the house. So 6 days and there is still a lot to do. Where did the time go???

Here it is now, Christmas Eve, and somehow everything that needed to get done is done. Our tree has lights and candy canes on it but no ornaments and our house is not decorated, but we are all OK with that. The shopping is done, gifts are wrapped, cards are sent and the cookies baked.

Today, after the animals are fed, we will clean house, do laundry, pick up a few groceries, and go to the Christmas Eve service at our church. Not a glamorous Christmas Eve, but not a crazy-stressed-out one either – and for that, I am thankful.

I am also thankful for Jesus, whose birth we celebrate tomorrow. We like all the secular festivities of Christmas, but we don’t want to lose sight of the real reason for celebrating Christmas. Take a few minutes to read the Christmas story. It is found in the Bible in the book of Luke, 2nd chapter. To read it online, click here.