O Come, O Come Emmanuel...

I love the Christmas season. I love the lights, the carols playing in every store, putting up decorations, and seeing presents underneath the beautifully lit tree. I love the excitement I see in my childrens' eyes with each ball or bell or angel that is hung on the tree branches. I love it's a "Wonderful Life" as well as "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and I can still remember my Dad laughing hysterically at that poor little dog in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". I will sing at the top of my lungs with Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and even Elvis if need be. I love when snowflakes begin to fall, and you can see your breath on a chilly morning. There is a feeling that you get this time of the year. A wonder, an expectation, fills your heart. There is a hustle and bustle in the air, a skip in my step and extra joy in my heart. I love giving gifts, surprising my children, trying to find something special for my love, Luis. I love the challenge of finding something for my parents that is different from anything else I have given them in the last 39 years...now THAT is not easy!! (but this year I did pretty well!)

The boys and I went to a Christmas concert last night at Anderson University. Anderson is a private, Christian university, so the real meaning of Christmas was woven throughout the whole concert, intentionally, and without apology. It was really beautiful, yet surprisingly simple. It reminded me how the most important gift, the most precious present of the Savior sent to us, was miraculous and mighty, yet so simple. No ornaments. No decorated tree. No stockings. No warm fireplace. No ribbons or bows. No holiday feast. While those things are so beautiful, they so easily become our focus. Then, before we even realize, we fall into the trap, as beautiful as it may look on the outside, while Jesus is left out in the cold, once again. For every generation, every person in captivity, God sent us a Savior. We are just as trapped now, or maybe even more so, as the Israelites were back in the Bible days. Our trappings may look different, but they bind just the same. I have to catch myself many times during this season, regroup, and refocus on what is really important. I pray that after all is said and done, I give Jesus his rightful place this Christmas, and throughout the year.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourn in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice, Rejoice,
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel