Merry Christmas

What happened to July? Is it really Christmas time? 

I have realized over the years, as I've gotten older, how Christmas has taken on a new meaning.  As a child, is was all about me. What present I wanted for Christmas. I remember my Aunts asking me "what I wanted for Christmas"?  One of them handed me a catalog from Sears, and told me to write a "few" things down. I remember thinking, really, is she kidding? I flipped through the pages, past the clothes, and tools, right to the toy section.  I also remember how difficult it was to pick out "just a few things". 

As I got older, I began to realize how important Christmas really is. It is no longer about me, but about the birth of a tiny baby over two-thousand years ago.  A man named Joseph was pledged to marry a young virgin by the name of Mary. Before they could marry, however, Joseph learned something disgraceful about his bride to be. She was already pregnant. Joseph thought about divorcing her privately to avoid further embarrassment.  In a dream, Joseph learned Mary was still a virgin, and he should plan to marry her. Joseph was obedient, and took her as his wife.  They walked to a little town called Bethlehem because Joseph belonged to the town of David where they were required to register.  While they were there, Mary's time had come to give birth to her child.  On that night because there was no room in the Inn, she wrapped the baby in cloths and placed him in a manger.  That baby changed the world. He changed my world and my life. 

This year our celebration is a joyous one. It's about the birth of the King. It's about " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14, NIV).

On this day, we celebrate His birth!

Merry Christmas