Favorite Christmas memory? This year will mark Christmas number 57 for me, so asking me that question is difficult. From my own childhood? From my early adult life? Early marriage? That point where I became Santa with our own children? One favorite memory for me was on Christmas morning, and the kids were about 2 years old. We were back in our house after having Christmas in a rental house the year before after a tornado hit our home in November.
Fisher-Price theme toys were the order of the day, and Santa had brought our son a pirate ship and our daughter a farm. Captured on video, our son sat mesmerized with his toy, and our daughter sat opening and closing the barn door, attempting to capture the source of the "moo" that occurred with each opening.
Children cause us to view Christmas differently, their excitement of the entire season. Pastor teases the excitement each Sunday with the Advent Wreath, which is used to mark observations, but Pastor knows what's on the kids' minds: How much longer until Christmas? So, from four Sundays down to the final candle and the next candle is the Christ candle which is lit on Christmas. We add to the excitement with calendars (we had one in our home) that observe the month of December and have a prayer for each day before Christmas. We decorate and begin to put gifts under the tree.
Yet all of this is designed around a very simple message that we need to remind ourselves of as the season unfolds. "For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11) As we prepare for this day, this simple truth should be part of our daily routine.
Hope Men's Ministry
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