I can’t remember the last time I was able to slow down
enough to enjoy Christmas. I have
always made a feeble attempt to apply the brakes around the beginning of
December but usually end up skidding past the exit, missing the off-ramp
completely. As my younglings grow
older I have come to the realization that it is time to put all of my effort
back into the Christmas season.
Mom and Dad always did Christmas right. The photographs and reel-to-reel film
from my childhood are glaring examples of what Christmas should be like for my
girls. This means that I need to
put the Christmas tree up sometime before December 20th. I should throw some lights up on the
roof and map out areas for other Christmas themed decorations to be placed
around the house. I need to make
sure the house is warm and cozy.
Hot chocolate needs to be readily available and Bing or Frank needs to
be singing to us softly in the background. And Elvis.
Elvis was always great with those Christmas jingles.
We can’t forget those classic films playing in the
background. A Christmas Story, It’s A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Rudolf the
Red-Nose Reindeer, and Charlie Brown
Christmas playing in the background for the children. Christmas
Vacation and The Nightmare Before
Christmas playing for mommy and daddy later in the evening.
First, and foremost, we have to remember the reason why we
celebrate Christmas in the first place.
Tim Keller says, “At Christmas God moved into a very bad neighborhood and
began rehabilitating it.” Jesus' three-year
ministry had more of an impact on this world than any other event or any other
person in documented history. This
is why it is important for me to show my kids the real reason why we celebrate
Christmas. We have so much to be
thankful for.
As I mentioned above, Mom and Dad made Christmas magical for
my sisters and I. They made every
effort to fill our stockings and pile gifts under the tree. The milk, cookies, and carrots were
always missing on Christmas morning which served to make our smiles that much
bigger. And the letters to Santa
showed a return or two in one way or another.
Heather and I are looking forward to making this a magical
time for our kids. Just like our
parents did for us.
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