This Time

What is it about this time of the year that I love so much? Could it be the chill in they air? The warm smells inside? Perhaps it is the cozy sweaters and looking out at the falling snow? It may be the memories of other birthdays, or the excitement of the Christmas season. Or is it the idea of spending time with family?....What if its just the thought of wassail and eggnog? I think the thing that I love the most about this time of year is that everyone, young and old, rich and poor, stops and remembers what Christ did for them. Even those who do not believe sing songs about it, and read stories about it. Though it is sad that they have no idea of the significance of what they are singing, the words are still being sung.
You could say that this is a time of hope, love, and giving, but I have more often observed that it is a time of worship and praise. The Christmas carols sing of the glory of God, the plays tell of changed lives, the gifts (should) tell of selfless love. It is a time when man puts aside their differences and comes to a realization (however brief) of who God really is. There is a story I remember about WWII...It was Christmas Eve in a red zone in Germany, and the Nazis and the Americans had been fighting all day, it was now night and they were both sitting in the trenches trying to keep warm when the Americans began to hear the soft tune of Silent Night carry over from the Germain side, they began to sing along. It being Christmas Eve and no one wanting to fight, the two sides got out of their trenches and met in the middle where they sang and ahem...drank together. The next day they were fighting again, but for a brief moment the terrible loss of life in that war ceased to celebrate King Jesus.
Some people hate the fact that we begin to celebrate Christmas a month before it actually comes, but what I say to them is that sometimes people need a month to sit down and remember what this whole thing is all about...