Glitz and Glitter

            I love this time of year.  The holidays seem to bring out the best in people.   Thanksgiving is over and people are busy finding the perfect gift for each person on their Christmas list.  The airwaves are filled with beautiful Christmas music as people shop, wrap and anxiously wait for Christmas day.  Children are excited as all kinds of wonderful gifts cross their minds.  Trees are trimmed, houses are decorated, food is baked and all kinds of preparations are made for the ready.

            Yet, I find myself saddened a bit too.  There is so much stress placed on the purchasing of gifts and lists, that often the real meaning of Christmas is lost.  It becomes a reason for more of everything that Christmas isn’t!  It has turned into a “let’s see who gets the most or best gifts, and who can decorate their house and yard the best.” 

            Some years ago when my son was in the Marine Corps, his duties included a tour overseas during Christmas.  I was upset, as a mom, that he could not be with us for the holidays, but I understood.    He didn’t make it home until spring that year and I decided when he finally came home we would have another Christmas celebration.  So just prior to his arrival, we dug out a little tree, not quite a “Charlie Brown” tree, but much, much smaller than we use traditionally at Christmas; lights, the Crèche, and other decorations traditional for the celebration.  We wrapped presents and did our traditional baking, and even put a few lights up. There were those, I suspect, who wondered what we were thinking when they passed the house at night with our small lit up Christmas tree in the window.

            Our son was delighted with our efforts and we spent his time home celebrating the Savior’s birth and our gratitude that our son, who was a defender of our nation’s freedoms, was home with us.  His four siblings, (some coming quite a distance) along with nieces and nephews, also joined the celebration. Together we had the traditional Christmas meal with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pies and other sweets!  We were again a united family.

            So while I love the music, the decorations and the festivities this season brings, I cherish most that my Savior is what we really celebrate and the opportunity we have to bring those we love close to us. 

            I hope as you begin this Advent season, and continue your preparations; you will slow down and reach past all the glitz and glitter, and see the impact of that tiny baby born in manger so many years ago.  Jesus really is the “reason for the season.” 

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.   Matthew 25:1-5