Christmas Love

I find it helps to remember that I have two choices at Christmas. I can approach Christmas morning with the image of Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus resting together after a busy night. I think of their long journey full of obstacles. I imagine them tired, but thankful and filled with love, hope, and joy.

I don’t know how close I am to the truth, but it’s a calming image for me. It’s one that I think about often throughout the year when I’m both up and down. It grounds me.

The other image I get is one of a horse race with a chaotic race to the finish. Yea, it’s out of the blue, but walk with me here. I get the image of a race track — say the Kentucky Derby or some other huge race. I’m not much of a horse racing fan. I’ve never been to a race track so my impression is basically what I see on TV. The track is packed with people. There seems to commotion and noise everywhere.

It’s a crazy, anxious filled moment. There’s tension in the air.

And in my head, I hear the announcer saying, “Down the stretch they come. I Want is in the lead. Take It To The Limit is coming up on his shoulder. I Want continues to push ahead. What Did You Forget and Loser-Loser are trailing in third and fourth.”

“They hit the final 100 meters. I Want is still in the lead, but Peace Be With You is coming on hard. He’s come out of nowhere. Oh my goodness, they’re neck and neck. I Want and Peace Be With You. I Want and Peace Be With You. In a stunning surprise, Peace Be With You takes the lead. Yes, yes, Peace Be With You surprises the field and runs away with the Derby. The winner is Peace Be With You!”

Kind of nerve-wracking, right? What’s going to happen? Who’s gonna win? Everyone is on pins and needles.

It’s my own little way to remind myself to keep things in perspective. I have a choice. I can focus on all the craziness or I can embrace the important things like Christ’s birth and love.

In fact, Christians celebrate the final Sunday before Christmas by lighting the fourth candle on the Advent wreath called the “Candle of Joy” or sometimes the “Shepherd’s Candle.” The readings center on Mary’s role (Annunciation), Joseph’s faith, and God’s promise of salvation through Jesus. The celebration represents the joy the shepherds felt when the angels announced the birth of Jesus to them.

Here’s to the love in our heart.

Love is a beautiful thing:

–“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” —Bill Vaughan

–“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
―Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

–“Christmas gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect on the important things around us.” ―David Cameron

–“If there is love in your heart and your mind, you will feel like Christmas all the time,” ―Faith Hill

–“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” —Clarence, It’s a Wonderful Life

–“Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.” —Dale Evans

–“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” —Mother Theresa

–“The giving of gifts is not something man invented. God started the giving spree when He gave a gift beyond words, the unspeakable gift of His Son.” —Robert Flatt

–“Bless us, Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.” —Helen Steiner Rice