Merry Merry Christmas Everyone!

I’m not sure that there is any other day of the year that I love more than Christmas! Everything about it gives us a reason to celebrate. One of my favorite passages of scripture is Esther 9:22. It reminds me so much of Christmas. It tells how after God saved His people, He commanded them that, on a certain day every year, they were to celebrate what God had done for them.

He was very specific as to how they were to celebrate. They were to remember that on this day that their sorrow was to be turned to joy, and their mourning into a day of celebration. They were to have “days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” At the end of verse 30, letters were sent “with words of goodwill and assurance” (Christmas cards?). I have always felt that because God saved me by sending His son on Christmas, that this was a perfect example of how I should celebrate His saving me.

So often there are those who say that because we have “days of feasting and joy and giving presents… and gifts to the poor”, that we have forgotten the real reason for Christmas. In response to that, I say I can’t help but to celebrate with joy and with the giving of gifts because I remember that reason so well.

On Christmas Day, God saved me and gave me eternal life. He did that by giving me the gift of His Son. As long as I live, I will never be able to understand the kind of love that God showed when He sacrificed His one and only Child so that I could have life. And all He asks is that we accept His gift and love His Child that He so willingly gave.

My son once asked me if I thought we would celebrate Christmas in Heaven. At first it caught me off guard, but then I knew the answer. We probably won’t celebrate Christmas as we know it because every day in Heaven will be like Christmas.

What is it we like so much about Christmas? Isn’t it the peace, the goodwill, kindness and feelings of joy that come at this time? As children, didn’t we love Christmas for that special gift we wanted for so long and, at last, received? Don’t we love it for the things that delight our senses like the lights, music and candy? And the best thing of all is getting together with those we love at Christmas. That, too, will be the best part of Heaven — that we will get to be with the One we love most and those we love best!

I don’t know what this Christmas Day brings you. You may be surrounded by your family or alone. Maybe you have lost someone you love dearly or have just had someone new and special born into your family. Whatever your life circumstances, try the best that you can, just for this one day, to set aside your sorrows and be joyful. I’m not asking you to rejoice in difficult life circumstances, but in the special gift of God’s Son and His love that He has given you.

You all have been so kind, thoughtful and encouraging to us this past year and some of you for several years. Thank you for your support and caring. I pray that God will give you all double what you have given us and that His blessing will be upon you and your family this coming year in every way: spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially.

Once again Merry Christmas to you all, thank you and God bless you!

Jill, Tawra and Mike
www.LivingOnADime.com