Christmas Magic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FCn_xY-FPs
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Our Advent journey continues . In spirit, we walk along with Mary and Joseph, the donkey bells getting closer to the ears of those who would listen.
Do you ever feel guilty about continuing with your holiday traditions while so much strife is taking place in the world?
I remember thinking last year , “Why should I bother decorating when I can’t even gather in my home with my children and their children?”
Terry reminded me that Christmas magic happens when we light up our homes to proclaim that WE BELIEVE and we want to share our joy in proclaiming Jesus was born, he who came to save us all!
Joy? Yes! Joy!
In our own parts of this world we can still find beauty. We can find beauty in this damaged world and we have many reasons to celebrate.
There is a world pandemic going on. Can we find joy even through THIS? Yes!
I have learned never to take for granted how incredible it is to see the smile of a stranger on the street and to give them my smile….partly covered as it is.
I’ve learned how special it is to gather with those we love. (A good reminder for those days when I am exhausted. )
It has taught me how special it was to keep our Christmas traditions alive even last year when we only had each other in this sprawling bungalow and how magical it was to celebrate with the person I started this family with , my Terry.
We still decorated our home, lit up the tree, the candles, and put on the music that helped our hearts soar upward. Christmas magic comes when we find the beauty…..despite all odds.
Do you remember the famous story that happened during the first world war about the British and German soldiers on Christmas?
Late on Christmas Eve 1914, men of the British Expeditionary Force heard German troops in the trenches opposite them singing carols and patriotic songs and saw lanterns and small fir trees along their trenches. Messages began to be shouted between the trenches.
The following day, British and German soldiers met in no man's land and exchanged gifts, took photographs and some played impromptu games of football. They also buried casualties and repaired trenches and dugouts. After Boxing Day, meetings in no man's land dwindled out.
From IWM (Imperial War Museums)
Christmas magic can happen anywhere. It starts with the heart and lights up our smiles.
Christmas traditions can help us keep that magic alive.
I remember one tradition that our family did when the children were little. (And not so little as it happens..)
On Christmas eve EVE we used to let all four of them sleep under the Christmas tree and dream of Christmas to come. Terry sewed them all Christmas pillow cases so that it was even more special. Would you believe that the last time our Jared slept under the tree with his siblings was when he was 18?
We recently discovered that Jared has kept up that particular tradition and his own children now sleep under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve eve.
Do YOU have any Christmas traditions that you would like to share with me?
Let’s pray for our world and light up our trees to remind us that Jesus is the “light of the world’” .
Keep walking . Keep praying. Christmas magic is on its way.