‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
The Accidental Tree
I accidently bought a Christmas tree last October at a garden nursery in Dallas, even though I didn’t intend to buy one until later during the holidays. It was a little off-season and unexpected to find this 9-foot tree standing tall among a small forest of other artificial trees. Its miniature pine cones entwined through green snow-tipped branches that were filled with white, sparkling lights.
Since I arrived on the holiday scene so early on, I scooped up a plentiful supply of over-sized red, shiny balls, frosted red and white candy canes, and twinkling giant red snow-flakes to adorn the tree.
I could hardly wait to get the tree home and set it up in its new holiday corner of the family room. This was the first time in several years our living space was large enough to accommodate such a nice-sized tree.
Christmas in October
My family teased me about putting up a tree so early, but I was eager to enter into the spirit of Christmas. So, all season long I enjoyed our tree. Every morning before the sun arose and evening when the sun set, the lights were turned on to radiate the beauty of the tree.
Something about the tree, from the first time I saw it, reminded me of past Christmas holidays and sparked my imagination of those I wish I’d had.
This year the tree went up in October again. By now my family was getting used to the early onset of Christmas at our home. My husband likes to tell people the tree has been up since July.
The spirit of Christmas is what I enjoy. Sometimes it is mixing with shoppers as they scurry around looking for gifts. Sometimes it is having lunch with a friend or sending cards to old acquaintances. But, always it is the joy of life that makes me so happy.
Capturing the Spirit of Christmas
For some who have experienced breast cancer or lost loved ones, there is pain and suffering. To you, dear friends, I ask you to look to the joy of unexpected moments. Here’s how to capture those moments:
- Try making others happy around you. The moment you stop thinking about yourself and focus on other people, you have made your world a bigger place.
- Do one act of extraordinary kindness where you won’t particularly get anything in return.
- Continue to look for ways to bless others. You’ll soon lose count, but in their place will come an overwhelming gusher of joy that will flow out of you onto the lives of others. It will spill out into smiles, kind deeds, and plain old niceness.
The Unexpected Moment
Today some of my family took a long drive out of town to visit my husband’s elderly parents. We had a lovely day of family fun. Then, the unexpected spirit of Christmas happened, that special moment to cherish for all time.
My mother-in-law, who will turn 89 in a few days, walked over to her piano, sat down and lifted her arthritic hands that were bruised from dialysis treatment, and began to play. We gathered around the piano and sang Amazing Grace, that old hymn that George Bennard (not George Bernard Shaw) crafted 100 years ago, which has become one of the most endearing songs of the 20th century.
Through my tears, the memories flooded my mind. In the 42 years I have known this sweet woman, I never had a fight with her or exchanged cross and ugly words. Our relationship has given grace to each other to be ourselves and to grow in that grace. She said to our family, “When I am no longer here on this earth, remember to follow the same pathway I followed…for I followed Jesus.”
The Angry Innkeeper’s Wife
I flashed back to the time when I was in Junior High School, trying out for the Christmas play. I was chosen as the Innkeeper’s wife and my role was to be mean and turn Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus away. But, as hard as I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I kept letting them come into the Inn. Finally, in complete frustration, my teacher kicked me out of the play.
Now, it is almost Christmas Eve and I still can’t turn Him away.
Look for those unexpected moments of joy this Christmas season.
Thought for Today:
“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.”—W.T. Ellis
Live Life,
Janelle
