The title of this post is taken from my all-time favorite Christmas special, "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown". It's now 41 years old, but feels like it could be written today, with the sad exception that today's version would be missing the best part: Linus' speech from Luke2:8-14. That part is so poignant in it's simplicity. Every year I want to see either that clip or a small child's reenactment of it in our church's celebration.
As for the rest, well we're now 19 days down and I'm not able to shop for 13 of them. This is causing my wife great stress. Amanda puts a huge priority on getting the 'perfect gift' and, to be honest, she does a good job. Her gifts are always very thoughtful. However the way she shops is just to go out and look, like a hunter/gatherer in winter, for just the right thing to pop out. This is ok if you have the time, but she likes to shop with me and, as we've established, my time is very limited. So, we'll get it done. It will just take some planning and proper execution. Luckily, that's how I shop.
I've decided, however, that it's exactly all this shopping that robs Christmastime of so much of it's joy for so many adults. We put so much stress on ourselves. Corporations have managed to convince the population at large that if you love someone you'll buy them gifts and if you don't, then you must not love them. We shop driven by guilt, racking up debt, trying to purchase affection from our families that we'd have anyway.
At least the stores will all close on Christmas Eve and things slow down a bit. Christmas Eve is my favorite part of Christmas. It's with my Mom, Sisters and Aunt Sharon. It's sad that Dad isn't there but life does change. None-the-less, once we've all gathered together thoughts of everything else is gone and we're just enjoying each others company, laughing and teasing as always. There's still something sweet about it.
Take time to enjoy Christmas this year. Take your wife on a date to see the lights. Sit in the dark with Christmas Tree and just enjoy it's glow.
