Have A Christmas Heart

 

      We just celebrated Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday officially begins in earnest! Sometimes it’s so hard to stay focused on the meaning of Christmas when there is so much else going on.  

     

      With the shopping, decorating, entertaining, mailings, cooking and baking and all the other “must dos” on the list, we often feel overwhelmed and lost in the wonder of it all.  We lose sight of the “why” we are doing all that we are trying to get done.  We put off communicating—and put on hold talking with our families and friends because there just isn’t time in our already overloaded schedule to just stop and “be!”  

And there certainly isn’t time for me to take the time for "me"! Yet, I wonder if this isn’t exactly what I must do!  It’s the time of year when stress limits spike, as life gets beyond hectic!  So as I think about my “favorite things” this time of year, I find a Christmas catalogue, a warm cup of tea, lights blinking merrily on the tree, Christmas music playing on the radio and a solid rocker in front of the fireplace to make it just about right!

So as you place the last ornament on your tree, toss the last bit of tinsel in the one neglected spot, turn on the lights and finally sit down in front of your masterful job with a warm cup of coffee (or tea, etc.) remember that Christmas is all about the heart.  It’s about giving and connecting with loved ones.  It’s about sharing with someone who has less than you or with someone who needs encouragement.  It’s about remembering those who are going through a bad time or are lonely and feel forgotten.  

Christmas is about family in whatever form family comes.  Wrap your heart around another.  Be heart healing medicine.  Offer love that seems to transform even the “grinchiest” person this time of year.   Sing a song of joy and promise that warms the coldest heart.  Unless you can feel the spirit of Christmas in your very being, you are only play-acting.  Your outward demonstrations will be meaningless unless you feel the joy you are exhibiting, that is Christmas, with others. 

Let your eyes be dazzled like a child’s.  Open your soul to hear the ringing of bells and your eyes to the softly falling snow. Feel the excitement of the two-year-old in front of the Christmas tree.  Smell the scent of cookies or brownies in the oven intermingled with the fresh scent of pine.  Taste with anticipation all the flavors of the celebration: eggnog, turkey or ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, fruit cake, pies and sweet potatoes.  Listen with pleasure and appreciation to the Christmas carols playing softly in the background as you drink in the Spirit of Christmas.

Christmas is not about a single day on the calendar to be celebrated.  It’s about the heart all year long.  It’s an occasion to be honored, enjoyed, relished and delighted in, but not for a mere 24 hours!  It’s a season that should be celebrated every day, as we cherish the moments that give us a Christmas heart!

Merry beginning of the Christmas season, my friend!  Enjoy this time with family and friends,--- and take a moment to just be alone, in the quiet with The Lord, and experience His love.

Photo Credit:  free Christmas pics