'Tis The Season

Well, the Christmas season is officially upon us.  Hopefully we all survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday!  Those who know me, know I have had my tree up since November 1, have my TV tuned to the Hallmark Channel for continuous Christmas movies, and have been listening to Christmas since mid-October.  I just LOVE this time of year!
It just seems people are a little bit more generous.  A little more friendly.  A little more spirited.  Who doesn't love Christmas?  It brings back so many memories, and specific songs, or a certain decoration, even a smell sends me back to years ago with big family gatherings.  Every year, as I unpack my ornaments and decorations, I get to re-live those special moments.  I still display a little plastic Santa and reindeer that was my mom's many years ago, as well as a little tiny ceramic Santa cup.  Our tree still gets adorned with the "paper-plate dove" Courtney made when she was 3 - Kind of ugly, and well-worn, but it must go on the tree. One year, my mom let the kids make "ornaments" - pictures of them glued onto construction paper and embellished with ribbon and bells - they must go on the tree as well. 
And how I remember our family Christmases.  Many years ago, we would go to my great grandma's house where there was never enough chairs, but no one cared.  We would get to see relatives from out of town that we only saw once a year.  Cousins played like it was only yesterday since we saw each other.  Later, the gatherings moved to my parents' house.  Some of my best memories were when everyone brought whatever instrument they played, and we picked and strummed and played and sang for hours.  There may have been gifts, but the time spent with family is what I remember.  Seems like life was a lot slower back then.  And we weren't distracted by beeping cell phones or computers.  We just enjoyed each others' company. 
But let us not forget the reason for the celebration - The birth of Jesus Christ.  A King, sent to earth to be born in a lowly manger with no frills, and yet everyone knew this baby was special.  Miraculously conceived, born to average parents, but groomed for greatness by God Himself.  A child who grew up being wise beyond his years, and who grew up perfect.  A Man, who touched and healed the unclean, dined with sinners and prostitutes, gave sight to the blind, performed countless miracles, and yet was condemned to die by the very people he had helped.  A Man, who, knowing his fate, and having been tempted in every way, continued to live a perfect and holy life, according to God's plan.  A Man who willingly carried the cross he would die upon to the place he would die.  A Man who cried out to his Father even unto death to forgive those who were killing Him.  A Man who bore the sins of the world on his shoulders, offering Himself as a sacrifice and the propitiation for our sins, taking our place and offering us a gift none of us deserve.  A Man who arose from the grave three days after his death, and ascended to Heaven, conquering death and providing us a way to have eternal life in Heaven with Him someday. 
Yes, I LOVE Christmas. But I LOVE the reason even more!