Do You See What I See?

By Gayle Bragg Johnson

I love Christmas. I mean everything about Christmas. From picking out the perfect gift for that someone special, to the lights, making the cookies and getting the tree. But one of my favorites is the songs. 

I remember caroling when I was younger. We would pile in our cars and go caroling to the shut-ins from church. (Caroling in the country is waaaaay different than caroling in the city!)  During the long drive between houses, we would see the Christmas lights. All in all, good memories from my childhood. 

As I grew up, Christmas became more of a stress factor. The drive for the perfect Christmas took over and I didn't enjoy Christmas as much.  The older I've gotten, the more I realize that, as the Grinch said, "Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

So, I'm thinking this year, I'm going to enjoy Christmas again. Totally. I'm going focus on the REAL meaning of Christmas. And I'm gonna pay more attention to the songs. 

"Let every heart prepare Him room."  "Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord".  And one of my favorites;  "And in despair I bowed my  head; 'There is no peace on earth' I said, 'For hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men'.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men'"

A baby. That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. Regardless of what the world says or does, it is a day set aside to celebrate the birth of the God-man, the Lamb of God, who came to take away our sins. The One who payed the ransom with His blood so we could have a relationship with the Almighty again. He didn't have to do it. He did it because He loves you. He did it because he loves ME. It's personal. 

So I will enjoy Christmas again. And I will celebrate the birth of a baby and remember that "Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord". Luke 2:11

Do you see what I see?