Ten Things I Love about Christmastime (not in any particular order)
1) Snow: Seriously, how can people live in places where the seasons don’t change? (no offense, dearest Texas friends). There is nothing more beautiful than fresh fallen snow… the way it sparkles and shines. I still love to examine different snowflakes, looking to prove that there are two alike (but there never are). My dogs love the snow. There is nothing cuter than watching dogs leap into the air to catch snowflakes on their tongues. Their complete lack of inhibition, when it comes to snow—really, when it comes to anything—is a delight. I, too, have been known to catch the occasional snowflake on my tongue…but only when no one else is outside (unlike my dogs, I have not mastered that “complete abandon” thing yet).
2) Decorations: I love Christmas decorations. While I have been known to rail against the commercialism and consumerism of our society, I admit that I feel compelled to walk down the Christmas aisles of every store. I cannot help myself. I detest how Christmas preparation has pretty much obliterated Thanksgiving. I think we need all the help we can get in learning to be thankful people, so it is not good to pass over such a holiday. Again, though, I am all talk, because I bought Christmas decorations way before Thanksgiving…and shamelessly, joyously walked up and down the Christmas aisles the minute they went up on display!
3) Children: Children are a delight at any time of year, but especially at Christmas. I love to see them dressed up as angels and animals and singing songs about Jesus. We have a little girl at our church named Hope. She has been really sick for a long time and, consequently, has never been in any kind of pageant or production. This year, she is an angel. She is so excited about being an angel that everyone in our town knows about it! She loves to tell people, “I’m going to be an angel at church”. What a delight she is (she’s an angel every day of the year in my book)! At a time of year when adults are overwhelmed by all that we have to get done and how busy we are, little children are filled with excitement and joy. I think of all we take for granted, and then I see the pure, genuine enthusiasm of a little Christmas angel…and then I know what Jesus meant when He said we need to “become like little children” before we will really get what He is about!
4) Christmas Music: They shouldn’t start playing it before Thanksgiving! But I LOVE it!!! This is the only time of year that we get to hear these beautiful songs. When else can you go to the mall and hear songs about Jesus? Easter has become all about that Bunny, so you never hear about Jesus then. But at Christmas, Santa has not yet stolen center stage…not in our songs, at least. I mean, the songs about Santa are fun, but they don’t touch peoples’ hearts the way the carols do. When I have gone caroling in nursing homes, it is amazing to me how even non-responsive people start to cry during “Silent Night”. Without fail, there is something in the Christmas story—and in the songs that tell about it—that touches our hearts in places where normal words cannot reach. Speaking of Christmas music, I highly recommend the new Christmas album by Sarah McLachlin. Her voice is so beautifully haunting (only rivaled in beauty by the voice of Alison Krauss). Normally, I just buy songs that I like off of iTunes, since it is rare that I like an entire CD (and why waste the money?). But this CD gets two thumbs up from the Tina, all the way through!
5) Church Attendance: People come out of the woodwork at Christmastime! I love how full the pews are during the season. I have a friend who calls these people the “Chreasters” (the Christmas and Easter people). I am just glad to see them a couple times of year, rather than never! As one who was raised going to church every Sunday (no matter how hard I tried to get out of it), I don’t really understand that seasonal attendance swelling. I mean, why--if church isn’t important to you at any other time of the year—is it important now? Is it the songs everywhere that make people think about Jesus? Is it such a family-oriented time that we just want to be connected to our families by going to church with them (or to make mom or grandma happy)? I don’t mean these comments to hurt anyone’s feelings. I sincerely wonder what it is that brings people to church at the holidays. Maybe it is different for every person—or maybe there are some common things that draw them in (would love to hear your comments about this!). Regardless of why, I am grateful to see the church full. I am grateful to have the opportunity to share who Jesus is, and why He came, with these wonderful people. Hopefully, something might spark their interest and make them want a relationship with Jesus that lasts all year long. That is my prayer!
6) Christmas Television: I love Christmas specials!!! I wait every year to watch the Peanuts, the Grinch, Rudolph, Frosty, and all the gang! I love Christmas movies: “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Christmas Story”, and “Christmas Vacation”. I especially love that film genre: the romantic Christmas comedy. The Hallmark channel, the ABC Family channel, and Lifetime have made this genre famous in recent years. There is something about Christmastime that makes you feel like anything can happen—as if the air is infused with some special kind of magic (not the kind of magic forbidden by Scripture, but the kind that makes people fall in love and laugh and go ice skating!). It does seem like the perfect time to fall in love. Since, currently, my own love life resembles the Sahara desert, I especially delight in these cheesy movies. If you saw what Christmas movies I have programmed on my DVR, you would realize how truly sappy I am! My mom watches them too, so I think it might be genetic!
7) The Christmas Tree: Christmas trees are the epitome of Christmas to me. I love my tree. The first thing I do in the morning is plug in the tree…and the last thing I do at night is unplug it! I love to sit in the evenings, with all my house lights turned off and just look at my shining tree and think about life and God (while, of course, cuddling with the two cutest dogs in the world!). I am not sure what the attraction is for me…but I wonder if it is tradition. I can remember having a tree since I was a little girl. I remember cuddling with my mom, on the couch, in a darkened room only lit by the tree, and playing, “Riddle-Diddle-I-Dee-Dee”—where you pick an ornament and try to describe it until the other person finds it (e.g. “Riddle-Diddle-I-Dee-Dee, I see something you don’t see…and it is green and sparkly with a feather”; “Is it that green partridge ornament at the top?”; “No, guess again”). The great thing about tradition is it reminds you that some things really do stay the same, no matter how much changes in life. The older I get, Christmas becomes a mixed time of joy and sadness. I love the meaning of Christmas, but I miss people who used to sit around a tree with me (like my grandparents). Somehow, when I look at my Christmas tree, it reminds of what it says in Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever”. It is good to know that no matter what life brings, God is always good and He is always there. My tree reminds me of that!
8) Presents: Who doesn’t love presents? While I do like to get presents, I much prefer giving them. When I was young, I couldn’t wait to open those presents under the tree—to see what kind of loot I was going to get! Now, I am just as excited about present opening, but I am more excited to see people open the presents that I got for them. I try to pick out things that the people I love will really enjoy--things that will show them I know who they are and what they like. I take great delight in the process. In fact, I am so excited about the presents that I got for my three beautiful nieces that I can hardly contain myself!! Since I won’t be able to see them open their presents, I am tempted to ask my sister to videotape their reactions…or at least take a picture of them looking exited (hee hee). My mom used to tell me that it is “more blessed to give than receive” (she makes stuff like that up all the time!!). As a child, I couldn’t fathom that reality. How could it really be more exciting to give something than to get something? But, it’s true. Old age has proved it to me!!! Don’t tell my mom that she was right. It will go to her head!! (love you, mom!)
9) Candles: A pastor friend of mine says, “There is something about lighting candles that really gets to people. Light a candle, people cry”. It’s true! I am not sure why, but there is something very meaningful about turning out the lights and then watching a candle’s light slowly reclaim the darkened spaces. Christmas Eve would not truly be Christmas Eve for me without lighting some candles and singing “Silent Night”. Maybe this is another one of those tradition things! Or maybe it is the hope that a candle brings…something so small gives such a big light. The darkness of life is overwhelming at times, but one little candle lights a whole room. Perhaps that candle speaks to the frightened places in each of our hearts and reminds us to wait, to trust, to hope. Granted, I am sure all of this occurs at a subconscious level. But I think that God’s truth resonates within us, even when we can’t describe that it is happening. The eternal truth is that “the Light had shone in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it”!
10) “Mary, Did you Know?”: I adore this song! I know, I know...it has been grossly overplayed, but I still can’t get enough of it. I made my teenagers sing it one year for a church Christmas program and they complained the whole time. Of course, complaining seems to be the language of teenagers (even when they actually like something!). Mostly, they didn’t like the fact that I made them sing, period. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t because of the particular song. I mean, who doesn’t love this song?!!! It makes me cry every time! But then again, I cry at various TV commercials, during Oprah, whenever I pray, etc. I found the following video the other day, which is set to the music of “Mary, Did You Know?” It is sort of a montage of what Jesus is all about, and I think it is really well done. I hope you like it! (see below)
1) Snow: Seriously, how can people live in places where the seasons don’t change? (no offense, dearest Texas friends). There is nothing more beautiful than fresh fallen snow… the way it sparkles and shines. I still love to examine different snowflakes, looking to prove that there are two alike (but there never are). My dogs love the snow. There is nothing cuter than watching dogs leap into the air to catch snowflakes on their tongues. Their complete lack of inhibition, when it comes to snow—really, when it comes to anything—is a delight. I, too, have been known to catch the occasional snowflake on my tongue…but only when no one else is outside (unlike my dogs, I have not mastered that “complete abandon” thing yet).
2) Decorations: I love Christmas decorations. While I have been known to rail against the commercialism and consumerism of our society, I admit that I feel compelled to walk down the Christmas aisles of every store. I cannot help myself. I detest how Christmas preparation has pretty much obliterated Thanksgiving. I think we need all the help we can get in learning to be thankful people, so it is not good to pass over such a holiday. Again, though, I am all talk, because I bought Christmas decorations way before Thanksgiving…and shamelessly, joyously walked up and down the Christmas aisles the minute they went up on display!
3) Children: Children are a delight at any time of year, but especially at Christmas. I love to see them dressed up as angels and animals and singing songs about Jesus. We have a little girl at our church named Hope. She has been really sick for a long time and, consequently, has never been in any kind of pageant or production. This year, she is an angel. She is so excited about being an angel that everyone in our town knows about it! She loves to tell people, “I’m going to be an angel at church”. What a delight she is (she’s an angel every day of the year in my book)! At a time of year when adults are overwhelmed by all that we have to get done and how busy we are, little children are filled with excitement and joy. I think of all we take for granted, and then I see the pure, genuine enthusiasm of a little Christmas angel…and then I know what Jesus meant when He said we need to “become like little children” before we will really get what He is about!
4) Christmas Music: They shouldn’t start playing it before Thanksgiving! But I LOVE it!!! This is the only time of year that we get to hear these beautiful songs. When else can you go to the mall and hear songs about Jesus? Easter has become all about that Bunny, so you never hear about Jesus then. But at Christmas, Santa has not yet stolen center stage…not in our songs, at least. I mean, the songs about Santa are fun, but they don’t touch peoples’ hearts the way the carols do. When I have gone caroling in nursing homes, it is amazing to me how even non-responsive people start to cry during “Silent Night”. Without fail, there is something in the Christmas story—and in the songs that tell about it—that touches our hearts in places where normal words cannot reach. Speaking of Christmas music, I highly recommend the new Christmas album by Sarah McLachlin. Her voice is so beautifully haunting (only rivaled in beauty by the voice of Alison Krauss). Normally, I just buy songs that I like off of iTunes, since it is rare that I like an entire CD (and why waste the money?). But this CD gets two thumbs up from the Tina, all the way through!
5) Church Attendance: People come out of the woodwork at Christmastime! I love how full the pews are during the season. I have a friend who calls these people the “Chreasters” (the Christmas and Easter people). I am just glad to see them a couple times of year, rather than never! As one who was raised going to church every Sunday (no matter how hard I tried to get out of it), I don’t really understand that seasonal attendance swelling. I mean, why--if church isn’t important to you at any other time of the year—is it important now? Is it the songs everywhere that make people think about Jesus? Is it such a family-oriented time that we just want to be connected to our families by going to church with them (or to make mom or grandma happy)? I don’t mean these comments to hurt anyone’s feelings. I sincerely wonder what it is that brings people to church at the holidays. Maybe it is different for every person—or maybe there are some common things that draw them in (would love to hear your comments about this!). Regardless of why, I am grateful to see the church full. I am grateful to have the opportunity to share who Jesus is, and why He came, with these wonderful people. Hopefully, something might spark their interest and make them want a relationship with Jesus that lasts all year long. That is my prayer!
6) Christmas Television: I love Christmas specials!!! I wait every year to watch the Peanuts, the Grinch, Rudolph, Frosty, and all the gang! I love Christmas movies: “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Christmas Story”, and “Christmas Vacation”. I especially love that film genre: the romantic Christmas comedy. The Hallmark channel, the ABC Family channel, and Lifetime have made this genre famous in recent years. There is something about Christmastime that makes you feel like anything can happen—as if the air is infused with some special kind of magic (not the kind of magic forbidden by Scripture, but the kind that makes people fall in love and laugh and go ice skating!). It does seem like the perfect time to fall in love. Since, currently, my own love life resembles the Sahara desert, I especially delight in these cheesy movies. If you saw what Christmas movies I have programmed on my DVR, you would realize how truly sappy I am! My mom watches them too, so I think it might be genetic!
7) The Christmas Tree: Christmas trees are the epitome of Christmas to me. I love my tree. The first thing I do in the morning is plug in the tree…and the last thing I do at night is unplug it! I love to sit in the evenings, with all my house lights turned off and just look at my shining tree and think about life and God (while, of course, cuddling with the two cutest dogs in the world!). I am not sure what the attraction is for me…but I wonder if it is tradition. I can remember having a tree since I was a little girl. I remember cuddling with my mom, on the couch, in a darkened room only lit by the tree, and playing, “Riddle-Diddle-I-Dee-Dee”—where you pick an ornament and try to describe it until the other person finds it (e.g. “Riddle-Diddle-I-Dee-Dee, I see something you don’t see…and it is green and sparkly with a feather”; “Is it that green partridge ornament at the top?”; “No, guess again”). The great thing about tradition is it reminds you that some things really do stay the same, no matter how much changes in life. The older I get, Christmas becomes a mixed time of joy and sadness. I love the meaning of Christmas, but I miss people who used to sit around a tree with me (like my grandparents). Somehow, when I look at my Christmas tree, it reminds of what it says in Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever”. It is good to know that no matter what life brings, God is always good and He is always there. My tree reminds me of that!
8) Presents: Who doesn’t love presents? While I do like to get presents, I much prefer giving them. When I was young, I couldn’t wait to open those presents under the tree—to see what kind of loot I was going to get! Now, I am just as excited about present opening, but I am more excited to see people open the presents that I got for them. I try to pick out things that the people I love will really enjoy--things that will show them I know who they are and what they like. I take great delight in the process. In fact, I am so excited about the presents that I got for my three beautiful nieces that I can hardly contain myself!! Since I won’t be able to see them open their presents, I am tempted to ask my sister to videotape their reactions…or at least take a picture of them looking exited (hee hee). My mom used to tell me that it is “more blessed to give than receive” (she makes stuff like that up all the time!!). As a child, I couldn’t fathom that reality. How could it really be more exciting to give something than to get something? But, it’s true. Old age has proved it to me!!! Don’t tell my mom that she was right. It will go to her head!! (love you, mom!)
9) Candles: A pastor friend of mine says, “There is something about lighting candles that really gets to people. Light a candle, people cry”. It’s true! I am not sure why, but there is something very meaningful about turning out the lights and then watching a candle’s light slowly reclaim the darkened spaces. Christmas Eve would not truly be Christmas Eve for me without lighting some candles and singing “Silent Night”. Maybe this is another one of those tradition things! Or maybe it is the hope that a candle brings…something so small gives such a big light. The darkness of life is overwhelming at times, but one little candle lights a whole room. Perhaps that candle speaks to the frightened places in each of our hearts and reminds us to wait, to trust, to hope. Granted, I am sure all of this occurs at a subconscious level. But I think that God’s truth resonates within us, even when we can’t describe that it is happening. The eternal truth is that “the Light had shone in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it”!
10) “Mary, Did you Know?”: I adore this song! I know, I know...it has been grossly overplayed, but I still can’t get enough of it. I made my teenagers sing it one year for a church Christmas program and they complained the whole time. Of course, complaining seems to be the language of teenagers (even when they actually like something!). Mostly, they didn’t like the fact that I made them sing, period. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t because of the particular song. I mean, who doesn’t love this song?!!! It makes me cry every time! But then again, I cry at various TV commercials, during Oprah, whenever I pray, etc. I found the following video the other day, which is set to the music of “Mary, Did You Know?” It is sort of a montage of what Jesus is all about, and I think it is really well done. I hope you like it! (see below)
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