Christmas Lights

Its Christmas time again and with all the excitement and stress its still the most wonderful time of the year! 

For so many of us, it becomes more meaningful as we start to unwind from the shopping and daily lists of activities and things to do! So, we are all guilty of forgetting the real reason for the season until it fits nicely into a carol service or school play or concert on the tv.

This past weekend, we as a family put our tree and decorations up at home. There is nothing like the start of feeling festive than doing this, even though our stores have been blinding us with every shiny thing since Halloween finished! It is definitely commercial and materialistic when you look around.

But as we brought our decorations down from the attic and lovingly opened up the boxes that were all carefully packed away in, memories and moments shared come flooding back. Each bauble has a history. Collecting over the years and with those that have been lovingly made, bring us back to places and people we love.

Laying out the fairy lights is always a delicate job. Then once straightened out - the big reveal! Will they or won't they work?!

One set was placed on the footstool still rolled up and unlit. As I looked over, I saw something quite different. The shadow had cast on the wall of this haphazard set of uncurled lights and it reminded me of the crown of thorns! 

In all my years of dressing the tree, this thought had never crossed my mind before! Why do we put lights on the tree? I'm sure there must be and are probably many reasons why we do. We celebrate Our Saviour Jesus being born. He is The Light of The World. So that is one way to reflect on that too. But in between the pretty lights, He was also sent to die for us. 

As I saw the sudden glimpse of this from my unraveled lights, the real reason for the season struck me quite profoundly. Even though after many years of Sunday School and knowing the nativity story so very well, this year it has touched me differently.

I hope Christmas is happy for you and your family. It is meant to be a celebration of the greatest gift of all..... Jesus, love and being together. The real meaning of Christmas.

So even if we cant all be together with our families for whatever reason, it is still important to remember the biggest sacrifice of all. Love one another, forgive each other and remember the reasons we are here giving and receiving gifts! 

May your hearts be full and your homes be brimming over with love and laughter this festive season. My prayer is that we will all be held in our Heavenly Fathers arms and feel the real Spirit of Christmas! May He Bless us All as we share love and kindness with one another! Remember it is PRESENCE not PRESENTS that count.