Thursday, December 23, 2010

What Brings You Joy This Christmas Season?


I posted a question on my facebook page. What brings you joy at this time of year. I heard many answers but the majority centered on their faith in Jesus Christ and family and friends. Whether it was watching children opening their gifts, or simply being with loved ones during a special time, most of my readers enjoy the closeness of relationships over gifts, food, treats, shopping or any of the other activities that are common at this time of year.

For me personally, there are so many things that bring me joy this Christmas season. I love to serve others and many times I do that through cooking and baking. It is one of the ways I show love. I realize that is not looked upon positively in this day and age, yet I can’t seem to relinquish this method of loving people. So, at Christmas, I bake. I mean, I really bake. I have made homemade turtles, frosted cut out cookies, gingerbread men, peanut butter cookies, shortbread cookies, probably fifty dozen in all. And I am still feeling the need to bake more. I make up trays and I love giving these treats as gifts.

One tradition my family enjoys is the singing of The Twelve Days of Christmas. We laugh so hard we cry. Trying to remember every day in the correct order has become something of an obsession. We usually get it right…after a try or two and lots of laughter. And, we always sing it while traveling. It’s the rule.

Our Christmas celebration takes place on Christmas Eve. We will attend our churches Christmas Eve service then have steak, chicken and shrimp fondue, smoked bacon and cheese fondue and chocolate fondue (duh!). We will watch a Christmas movie and open gifts at midnight. Christmas day is a day of complete relaxation. We will watch movies all day and eat really easy stuff. After sleeping in that is.

In the midst of all the preparation, plans, hustle and bustle, what I am most thankful for is that God became flesh and walked among us. That Jesus was born in a manger. That he cried at his mother’s knee and pulled the puppy’s ears. That He toddled around his home while his mother sewed and his father read the Word. I am so thankful that He grew into a young man intent on doing the business of His Heavenly Father. That He learned a trade from His earthly father. That He did the bidding of His mother, even though it wasn’t His time. That He grew into a man who experienced temptation and yet overcame. That he had compassion. That He wept. I will always be thankful for Him dying on a cross, taking my every sin with Him when he went. That death could not defeat Him. That He sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for me. That He is coming again for me, His bride, to take me in His arms and call me His own. That I will live eternally with Him in perfect glory and His love for me will never diminish or be replaced by another. That I am forever His.

2 comments:

  1. I love your family tradition! I'm a baker too, but I gotta say, you have me beat in quantity! :) I also love what you love about Jesus. Teared up, I did! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

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  2. Thank you Jessica. This really is my favorite time of year. Blessings to you and Merry Christmas!

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