... Decking The Halls

This Christmas season is not exactly what I had dreamed of to be for our sweet BabyK's first Christmas. For anyone who knows me well I am a Christmas nut. I love the lights, the carols, the baked treats, the dinner parties, the fluffy snow; all of it (even the presents aren't too shabby). It was only natural for me to romanticize seeing the gleam in BabyK's eye as she gazed at her Memme's tree, or at her cousins' smiling faces as they unwrapped their sparkling presents.

But this year is shaping up a little differently. Not only will I miss roaming in Sears listening to the Christmas crooners, I'm going to miss spending physical time with our families. It looks like BabyK's firsts when it comes to Christmas will be quiet and intimate. But like all things, this isn't all bad. We will find ways to make it special. Instead of hearing the carols in the mall while shopping, BabyK likes jamming out to Little Drummer boy at home. Instead of the lights at the grandparents, she is enjoying pointing to our humble 4-foot tree and 3-house Christmas village.

Thanks to the beloved Peanuts Special, whenever I start to feel down, or that the Christmas season is spinning out of control, I can hear Linus's' sweet voice reciting Luke 2. I know that true Christmas is taking time to remember that God sent His son Jesus to this earth to make a way for us to be together. It doesn't matter if that happens on December 25th (news flash, that actually isn't the date of Jesus' birth). It doesn't even matter if there are presents exchanged (Another news flash, the Wisemen didn't even see Jesus until he was 2-years old).

What matters is that when this world seems dark and dreary, I remember what my God did for me. He brought Light into the darkness, hope to the captives, joy to those mourning and love to those broken. Now I -regardless of where, when or how- get to share this beautiful truth with my precious little girl.

My prayer is that there truly would be peace on earth this Christmas of 2020. No matter how different this Christmas may be, may each and everyone of us feel that unshakable, undeniable love that the Father has for us in His precious Gift.

And that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.

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Luke 2: 10-11

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."