[Cue music.] “It’s Christmas time in my hometown! There’s a happy feeling goin’ all around…”
I hope there’s a happy feeling where you are this Christmas Day, 2023. I pray that if you are suffering in any way whatsoever that you feel God’s presence. May He bring joy and peace to your heart and your situation.
“And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”
Luke 2:6-7 NLT
Last night, the house was alive with festivities. Today, I read over the sign on my wall that gives the definition of the word, gather. The first definition says, “come together; •assemble or accumulate into one group, or place.” I was thinking, that’s what we do for Christmas. The baby born and laid in the manger gives us reason to make sure that we assemble and gather with family and friends and celebrate his birth by the love we share.
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Matthew 1:23 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.1.23.KJV
Jesus came down to be with us…Emmanuel…God with us. God wanted to be with us…and make a way for us to be with Him.
In the Old Testament, God specified celebrations—‘get-togethers’—to feast and remember. We get together at Christmas to feast and remember. We remember Christmases past, and we carry traditions forward while we also make new ones. We remember how much we love each other; and we remember God’s love for us. We share the most wonderful Christmas present ever given by sharing the love He gave to us with others…by our actions, our time, and our gifts.
I love these celebrations. And, I love the time after…the time of quiet and reflection…and leftovers (haha). Today, it has begun to rain. I have worn pajamas all day. I am lounging with a Christmas quilt that I inherited. I have eaten leftovers and am now drinking peppermint hot chocolate. I have watched Christmas movies and visited with my friend, Jenny, who is more like family, when she came to pick up some homemade Biscotti. The kids went to their in-laws. I planned to cook a ham and scalloped potato meal for Steve and me, but we are content to graze and enjoy the day…I may fix ham tomorrow…Christmas extended perhaps…it’s been done before. It didn’t stop with the day of Jesus’ birth, but continued…and continues in our hearts today.
Merry Christmas,
~Jackie
Simply Celebrate With Jackie 