Dear Cora,
I decided to do this blog in "letter form" because I fear that this Christmas will probably be the last of its kind. For next year you will be another year older and another year wiser. So I am taking the time to put some thoughts down about this holiday season:
It is finally December 1st! Some would say that you can now officially start thinking about Christmas and all that goes with it. It is finally an acceptable time to put up the Christmas Tree. And in a couple weeks Daddy will say that we can start listening to Christmas music (even though you have been listening to the Justin Bieber Christmas CD that we bought while he was gone). It is pretty boring if you ask me. You see Cora there are two types of people in this world....the ones that Welcome the Holiday Season as soon as possible and the cynical ones that think everything is commercial and no one knows "the reason for the season".
I have heard the debates for a few weeks now. The big deal over stores opening on Thanksgiving and the craziness of Black Friday (You just discovered what Black Friday is and I think you just love to say "Black Friday" !). Those who judge forget about the people who need to work on those days so that they have a good paycheck. They forget about the family who needs to stand in line because they need a good sale to make their money go further. But you can participate in all the craziness of the holiday season and still know the "reason".
So exactly how long should this "season" last. If you ask me 365 days! You heard me! There are those that were upset that there were Christmas decorations up at Halloween. I just ignored them and you should too! I am my mother's child. I couldn't be more excited when I see the first signs of the holiday. And Cora, you are my child. I love that you will probably still be listening to that Justin Bieber Christmas CD in March!
All I need to do is look through your eyes and I can see the "season" all year long. When I was a child I always loved going to church in the summer time because when it came time to sing hymns it was the congregation's choice. So we would yell out page numbers and then sing that song. We used to LOVE so yell out Christmas hymns thinking we were so funny. But to be honest those hymns are relevant all year long.....O Holy Night....O Come Emanuel....Silent Night. Not one of those hymns say "On December 25th Jesus was born and on December 26th take down your tree!"
What are we to do on December 26th? It is so hard to put everything away. Last Sunday started advent and we called "Come Lord Jesus". Ahhhhh to wake up every morning saying "Come Lord Jesus"! Why are we only to say it for a month? My prayer for you is that you say "Come Lord Jesus" all year long. We can sit and judge others saying that Christmas is too commercialized but I hope that I have taught you the same thing that my mother taught me. Christmas is the most magical time of the year. A time to be treasured and remembered. A time for Christmas trees perfectly trimmed and food that is only eaten once a year! A time that we allowed Jesus to enter our hearts. And a time for Peace and Good will toward men.
This year we have been invited to a friends house to celebrate Hanukkah. You are so excited! I absolutely love that you are so eager to find out that Hanukkah is so much more than playing Dreidel. Your daddy will tell you that makes you my daughter. He is right. You are like me. But being like me makes you always want to find out more. Isn't that what this season is about? Always wanting to find out more.....Having the faith that there is enough oil in the lamp? I well up with tears just thinking about it. If only to live all year with the wanting...and faith.
Leaving you with one that thought that I you'll understand when you are older.......Each of us is an Innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus-Neal Maxwell. I would only add that you make the decision every day not just on December 25th.
Until Next Year,
~Your Mommy
No comments:
Post a Comment