Christmastime

Christmas is here! I love this season. The traditions, the songs, the gift giving, the lights, everything! My favorite holiday of the entire year is Christmas Eve though. It's something about the day before Christmas that I just love. All the excitement is in full swing on this day. 

For my family it's a day full of traditions...one of my favorites is the evening when everything get's calm. We turn all the lights out except for the Christmas tree, we eat cookies and milk, and we watch George (in It's a Wonderful Life) realize what a wonderful life he has!

But what is all the excitement all about. Why do we hustle and bustle? Why is this season so glorious?

To be honest this has been a harder Christmas for me and for my family. There are some that are no longer with us, the whole family is not all together, and situations just haven't been ideal. I've almost felt like Charlie Brown... feeling down about things and just ready for the season to be over.

My family and I watched the beloved classic Charlie Brown Christmas last night and it caused me to stop and to think. We know the story so well, Charlie Brown poses this question...

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" and then his friend Linus replies "Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights please.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14)

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

And that IS what Christmas is all about.

Christmas is a time to celebrate HIM. Despite my circumstances or how I feel. This season is about Him and because of Him!

God gave. He gave His Son. And He gave fully.

"God gives God. He witholds no good thing from you. And the good things in life are not so much health, but holiness, not so much riches in this world, but relationship with God; not so much our plans, but His presence- and He witholds no good thing from us because the greatest things in life aren't ever things. He doesn't withold Jesus from you. Christ is all your good, and He is all yours, and this is always your miracle." Ann Voskamp

So this is Christmas. God gave God. And He keeps giving us God. I dare you to try and wrap a gift as good as that and put it under the tree. There is never a gift so precious, so valuable, so wonderful as that sweet little baby Jesus. And He didn't come just once. He's still ours today.

Merry Christmas, friends. Today and always.

Erin Rae