Rolando and I took our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter and 3 month old grandson to look at Christmas lights. Any time we spotted Christmas decorations, I would shout out “Christmas, Christmas, Christmas,” and she responded, “Ho!Ho!Ho!”
There were stretches on the road when either there were no homes or no decorations in which she would say, “Popsi, More Christmas!”
Aren’t we all a bit like my granddaughter, longing for more? Longing for a little more joy, a little more gifts, a little more spirit, a little more light?
One of my Christmas gifts from my hubby was tickets to see Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith at the Infinite Energy Arena. Regardless of the fact I’ve wanted to see Amy Grant in concert since I was 13 years old, the excitement of going overwhelmed me. Full orchestra, amazing seats, I could literally have whispered, “Hey Amy!” and she could have responded. Notice I said “could have.”
At one point in the concert, we were all asked to join in and sing. The Christmas songs were all familiar and to hear the entire arena’s voices rising up over the orchestra filled the air with the spirit of the season. A few people pulled out their cell phones and before long the place lit up with tiny beacons of light shining up to the Heavens. It occurred to me, how could anyone not believe?
The lights, the songs, the trees, the gifts, the cards, the decorations, all began because of Him. Although there are people who celebrate Christmas and do not recognize Him, they really do recognize Him simply by the mere fact that they are participating. And as I looked around the arena, the sensation filled my heart – there is no way this many people could have it wrong. I found myself wanting to shout out like our granddaughter “More Christmas! More Christmas!”
Somehow if we could harness the magic of the season and keep it with us all year long, what an impact we could have. As we enter into the last week before the “big day” take time to reflect on why we celebrate the season, what it means in our Christian walk of faith, and how to keep it with us into the new year.
