Merry Christmas. :)

I had about a bajillion ideas rolling around in my head for what I wanted to do on my blog for Christmas. But I can't do a bajillion things. Oh well. I'll deal with it.

 I have a great love for these three people. Jesus: well, obviously. My Savior. My Redeemer. My Best Friend. Born in a lowly stable. (AKA a cave full of dirty animals. Stables weren't so nice back then.) The greatest man to ever have walked the Earth born amongst animals. And then Mary. Oh, Mary. I can't wait for the day I can meet her. And thank her. You know, she was like...14. 14 and gave birth to the Savior of the world. How pure she must have been! How precious and virtuous. I also think of the strife she must have gone through. Not only the knowledge she did she give birth and raise our Savior, but she watched Him suffer and die. I have such respect for her. And I want to thank her. And give her a big hug. Christmas would not have been the same without her faith and courage. And then Joseph. His faith also astounds me. Despite all trepidation or worries he might have had, he helped raise and teach Jesus.

It was the shepherds, the humblest of people, who first saw Jesus. Angels appeared to them, and sang of Jesus' birth. (I secretly hope I was in that choir.) What that must have been like! And it just shows, it is those who are humble who will be invited to be in the Savior's presence. 

The wise men. Who traveled days, months, years! To find Jesus. To give Him gifts. The wise men help remind me what Christmas is about - not receiving, but giving. And it reminds me to give to Christ. What is my gift to Christ? I never know what I have to give, if anything I have is of worth to Him. But, I can serve, and I can love. We all have something we can bring to Christ.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" - originally a poem by Longfellow.

"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.

"And in despair I bow my head

'There is no piece on Earth,' I said.

'For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on Earth, good will to men.'

"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on Earth, good will to men!'"

There is a story behind this poem. Why Longfellow wrote it. I suggest you look it up. But, one of the reasons why I love this so much, is because it mentions what almost everyone goes through: doubt; fear; getting caught up in the darkness of the world. But Christ breaks through all of that. With Him, there is hope. Doubt and fear are shattered, and light shines through. Because Christ is hope. That is why He was born, even in a lowly stable-cave. So that there would be hope, even in this dark and depressing world we live in.

Don't forget what Christmas is all about. Give a little more. Love a little stronger. Shine a little brighter. And have a very Merry Christmas!