Christmas Is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

As I write this blog I am listening to my favorite Christmas song That Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles. You might be more familiar with the opening line in the song, "Christmas is the time of year." What is so special about Christmas? What makes Christmas the most joyous season of the year? Ray Charles causes us to consider really only two things in his historic song.

First, Christmas is the time of year for being with the ones we love. It is the time when families and friends get together and just enjoy one another. It is the time of year to enjoy Christmas plays, musicals, and contatas. It is the time of year to have fellowship around the family table. It is that time of year when we just sit around the fire and sing about Jesus. My youngest daughter Blair has been singing Christmas carols since Thanksgiving.

Second, why can't it remain all through the year, each day the same? What a great question! The spirit of Christmas is amazing. It is noticeably different. On purpose we celebrate the simple things: family, friends, events, fellowship, etc. But for whatever reason, just as the New Year turns we put away not only the Christmas decorations and the lights and ornaments but we also put away the spirit of Christmas.

I encourage you to do two things as you read this blog: 1) Listen to the song That Spirit of Christmas while you read it and 2) After Christmas, do the usual...box up the tree, the lights, the ornaments, the wrapping paper, etc. but leave the spirit of Christmas out of the box this year.

Celebrate with your family and friends all through the year.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Shannon