Ordinary Wonderment

Ready For Christmas Morning

Today's Joy: Christmas Eve.

It's finally, finally here, Reader! That most wonderful day before the BIG DAY. Marked by a final flurry of gift wrapping and that obligatory last trip to the store for forgotten sour cream, extra shrimp and, of course, a few more gifts.

I love Christmas, Reader! I've been wishing folks on the street a Merry Christmas since Thanksgiving. My radio at work has been playing Christmas Carols for weeks & when everyone else goes to lunch, I join in, singing loudly. But it's not just me. The whole family has been Christmasing for the entire month of December. Our house is covered in gorgeous light-up snowflakes and the Christmas Dinner menu has been planned since Halloween. We've also been baking cookies for three consecutive weekends (no need to rush perfection, after all).

This week, the house has morphed into Santa's workshop central with an onslaught of gift wrapping. I adore wrapping gifts, Reader. Coordinated papers and packages stacked in gift towers tied with sumptuous ribbon--ahhhhh! Each year after Christmas, I take advantage of the 75% off sales to buy next year's coordinated wrapping scheme. It brings me great joy to watch my friends & loved ones unwrap my patterned package confections. Add to that, the final phase of decking the halls and we are almost ready! Though, I'll probably still be tinkering with my red & white candy tree in the dining room until we sit down to eat Christmas Dinner. Speaking of which, Aunt & I have been plotting the perfect holiday table setting for days. And I won't even get into how I turn into the world's biggest kid on Christmas morning.

Now, having said all of that, I've already gotten what I want for Christmas this year. I have asked God into my heart in a way I've never done before. I have felt his presence almost constantly and am watching Him work small miracles in my heart & in the hearts of others around me every day. For the first time, I am aware in a dumb-struck, utterly humbled sort of way what it meant when that little baby was born in a Bethlehem stable. A promise was fulfilled. It really was to save you & me. And that changes everything.

Just a thought, Reader: while you're opening gifts tomorrow morning, surrounded by the sweet love of family & friends, remember that all the joy in your heart is but an echo of the love freely given by Our Father. What a staggering revelation to know He's done all this just for me. Just for you. May God Bless & keep you and may this Christmas be full of all the warmth, love, memories and illumination your heart can hold. Amen.