The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's that time again!!!  The bells are ringing outside of shopping malls and grocery stores.  The 2013 Holiday TV Guide is sitting on the coffee table.  We are planning our first viewing of our favorite Christmas movie- Elf.  Online shopping lists are growing and orders are being placed.  The neighborhood is beginning to shine with Christmas lights, a particular treat with the sun setting before 6:00 p.m.   The Christmas cards are here and ready for addresses of loved ones near and far.  Christmas music fills our ears and tugs at our hearts as we reflect on another year full of challenges and blessings.

Every year, as I begin to address the cards, I'm reminded of God's rich blessing in the people He brings into our lives.  Surprisingly, we've sent a Christmas card every year for the past 19 years without missing a season.  Last year, I wasn't in a particularly merry mood and decided to skip a year.  Kyle insisted on sending a card, even offering to order and address them himself, so our record remains unbroken.   I truly love sending and receiving cards and have a long standing tradition of filling our refrigerator with the photos of dear families who have shaped and blessed our lives.  However, as I stare at the beautiful, smiling faces in these pictures, I'm also aware that there is struggle, sadness and sacrifice taking place in the homes of these dear friends.  Marriage and parenting stretches many of us daily.  Grief, insecurity and loneliness are familiar experiences to others of us and the holiday season can be a painful reminder of great loss in our lives.  In the recent days, I have smiled through tears while watching my Dad twirl and dance with Caroline on a recent Thanksgiving video.  We've enjoyed seeing Kyle's Mom in many of these holiday videos with her continually sweet, loving and gentle presence.  As I get ready to send our 19th picture perfect family photo with "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" prominently displayed across the bottom, I'm struck with the comical, even sad, truth that this is not true for many who send and receive cards just after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Also after Thanksgiving, we will begin singing Christmas hymns during worship and we will continue reading the Gospels containing the story of the incarnation.  We will be reminded of the hope, joy, and peace that comes only from our Lord.  We will also be reminded, in this season filled with cultural tradition and festivity, that God's abundant mercy, His great faithfulness and His steadfast love remains our only hope in life and in death.  With just a few days before our first holiday celebration, King David's song of thanksgiving especially encourages my soul during this most wonderful time of the year.

"Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!  Sing to him; sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!  Glory in his name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!  Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!.......
Sing to the LORD, all the earth!  Tell of his salvation from day to day.  Decalre his glory amonth the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!  For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods.  For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.  Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.  Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!  Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering before him!  Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.  Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"  Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!  Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.  O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"  from 1 Chronicles 16