I am exceptionally proud of myself this Christmas season. I did not once venture out amongst the sea of people and fight for my life in a loud, warm, Cinnabon, pumpkin spice latte smelling shopping mall. No driving around aimlessly for hours trying to find the perfect parking space. No standing in line listening to rude children berate their mothers for not getting them an Ipad or a smart phone. And best of all, no getting sprayed in the face by an overly ambitious perfume sales girl. I guess that's one of the benefits of being an empty nester. You're free to plan things out more thoroughly without over sugared little children running around in a constant state of euphoria and excitement. Yeah, ok so I miss that! That will come back to us as grandparents when we can totally spoil them rotten then leave after a weekend to complain to their mom and dad why they can't be more like grandma and grandpa! Anyway, you can shop online or in my case have a very organized wife who handles everything for our brood every year. Now this is not to say I have been sitting around drinking copious amounts of eggnog in my ugliest Christmas sweater and jammies either watching the Hallmark channel 24 hours a day. Instead I have been very busy in my annual yuletide bake fest. Alone in my kitchen lab with my trusty laptop and archived top secret cookie recipes, I whip, stir, fold, incorporate, mix and bake until I have enough cookies and cheesecakes to cause an outright epidemic of sugar comas.
But enough about me already. As my wife is downstairs putting all the trays together for our annual delivery route to family and friends, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and pray God blesses each and every one of you this season and upcoming new year! Now, I wouldn't be me if I didn't remind you to make sure to take the time to slow down and worship the true meaning of the season, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. I know in the midst of all the headlines recently especially in Newtown CT, the fiscal cliff, the insanity in the middle east, the endless attacks on this Holiest of Seasons and all of your life issues each day that it's so easy to lose sight of Hope. But believe me folks, He's there! He grieves when we grieve, He smiles when we are happy, He loves us more when we are struggling and picks us up when we fall. How do I know? Because He does it for me and you everyday and you may not even realize it. For every calamitous and tragic event there is always an outpouring of love and support afterwards that is more than human based. It is divinely infused into the situation to bring calm and peace in the midst of anguish. How else do you explain the massive outpouring of relief, love and sympathy in each of these occurrences? He alone stands watch over and gives charge to His angels and us, His earthly children to mend and heal the brokenhearted. We do so time and time again which reinforces in our hearts a greater love than we are capable on our own of giving. So get away, pray, go to church, sing joyous carols to His glory and give honor to the King of Kings this season. For that little manger in a dirty lowly stable over two thousand years ago is more than the centerpiece of a nice nativity scene on your lawn or in front of your church. For placed in that manger by His heavenly father is the reason hope is still alive! He is the King of Kings and His kingdom will have no end and He is coming very soon. So from our family to yours may God keep you and make His face to shine down upon you and your family this joyous holy season! Peace to you all!
Luke 2 9-14
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do
not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of
the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom
his favor rests."
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