Merry Christmas everyone!
I’ve been sitting here quietly anticipating the waking of the grandkids. Soon the house will come to life, and it will be Christmas…
But why only one night a year?
I saw a headline on my phone this morning that because of the fighting, Christmas has been cancelled in Bethlehem. Really – cancelled?
Christmas is more than just a day on the calendar, it’s an attitude of the heart. Christmas is a person. It’s the knowledge of our Savior’s birth and the impact that has made on our lives all year through. And yes, there are many things that cause us to lose sight of that wonderful joy we experience this time of year and Christmas is often cancelled in our hearts.
Bitterness, loneliness, financial pressures, illness, anger, war and busy-ness all have a way of creeping in and driving Christmas out.
This morning’s picture is of a flower that only blooms one night a year and then dies. How sad! I never want Christmas to be like that. There’s a song on one of my favorite Christmas CD’s, I play it often, “One Night A Year”.
“Once again the presents are resting by the tree
Once again we worship the One who came for you and me
I hear choirs of voices as they’re singing out His name
Again we tell the story of how the Christ Child came
One night a year we believe in peace on earth
One night a year we praise our Saviour’s birth
I wish every night the whole year through could be like Christmas Eve
When love’s pure light is shining everywhere, one night a year
Once again around the world heads are bowed in prayer
Once again the promise of peace is in the air
But soon will come the morning and the feeling will be past
And I can’t help but wonder why the feeling only lasts
One night a year we believe in peace on earth
One night a year we praise our Saviour’s birth
I wish every night the whole year through could be like Christmas Eve
When love’s pure light is shining everywhere, one night a year”
The prophets foretell the birth of Christ hundreds of years before it actually happened. Now, here we are hundreds of years later. May we always remember the event that changed the world and not just celebrate it one night a year.
“This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be ‘Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.’” Isaiah 9:6 ERV
Merry Christmas all year through!