Simple Christmas

First Published     December 16, 2016

                                            

It recently dawned on me that I’ve celebrated quite a number of Christmases and that I’ve nearly exhausted all celebration ideas including 18^th century English, silver and green, “Fleece on Earth” with lambs, “Wise Guys” with Cabbage Patch Dolls, Santa bears, Let It Snowmen, All Nativity, and All Music.  I was racking my brain trying to figure a way to top last year’s decorations.

The more I looked for that fabulous new tree ornament (retro, modern, broken, personalized?), the more I felt no need for the tree. As I scan lighting ideas online (multi-colors, one color, synchronized with music, icicles, projector light show?), I had a sinking feeling of no fulfillment.  It seemed that no amount of glitz, animation, colors, or music would make me excited about Christmas 2016.  I prayed.

 Dear Lord, I’ve lost the wonderment of Christmas. What is missing? How do I make this season celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ special? What do I do it to regain that simple Christmas joy?

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Jesus

Others

You

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I’m certain God grins each time we, his children, answer our own request.  And I didn’t even have to ponder whether the answer was an over-used cliché or a truth that needed to be shouted world-wide. I just needed to keep it simple and JOY-ful!

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Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing

-Issac Watts

Merry Christmas!

“Nana K” Vaughn

Copyright 2016, Karen Vaughn