A Christmas Thought

   Today I started thinking about Christmas. I turned on my Christmas music as loud as it could go, and started singing along, also as loud as I could. Now, I know Christmas is still quite far away, but I just couldn't help it! The smells of freshly cut Christmas trees and warm Christmas cookies coming out of the oven filled the air and my mind. It was all I could think about! I imagined myself curled up by the fireplace in my pajamas with a cup of hot chocolate in one hand and a book in the other. I pictured the utter excitement of waking up early to the smell of delicious food which was being prepared on Christmas morning. The lyrics of "Drummer Boy" were running through my head over and over, and I couldn't seem to break out of this early Christmas thrill! My brother and I had been singing "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" at the top of our lungs while making our lunch- it really seemed like Christmas was just around the corner! I dressed myself in two thick, cozy sweaters and my favorite boots. I put on some of my Vanilla Bean Noel perfume as I walked out of my bathroom thinking, "Yes! Now it seriously smells like the season is upon us!"
   Then I started thinking about the people who would most likely be disgusted with me for getting into the season this early. But I didn't seem to care. What mattered was that I felt joyous and warm inside, and nothing could stop me from feeling this way now. There is always a certain warm feeling that I get around every Christmas time. (I just happened to get it really early this year!:) I couldn't help but keep a smile on my face all day as imagined all the events of the season. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is being with almost all of my relatives, and really taking time to just relax and visit. And mmmm, when I think about those little smokies we have every year with some cheese and crackers to dip in the leftover sauce, my stomach starts to growl! I look out the window and see the rooftops glowing with colored lights and covered in thick white blankets of snow. And then I remember the interesting inflatable snowmen and santas that many people very gracefully put in their yards. Which naturally caused me to reminisce about some of the years when we would take walks through many neighborhoods at night just to look at the beautiful Christmas lights. I was filled with excitement when I remembered what fun I had last year putting Christmas lights and other decor in my bedroom. I simply cannot wait to decorate and fill the entire house with the smells of the season. I now find myself singing "I'll be home for Christmas..." as I imagine many more of the beautiful scenes of Christmas.
   But then I also got to thinking... why do a lot of people have a problem with listening to Christmas music and getting into the season early? In my opinion, it should be celebrated all year, which is something that never happens. After Christmas ends each year, we pack up all of the lights and decor and get back into work. We don't really think about Christmas at all again for another 11 months! Why? Just think about it. The point of the season is not just to get a few weeks off of work and receive presents and be with relatives. The point is the Person who came at this time. Christmas is to celebrate His coming, so why shouldn't we celebrate it all year? Just think. If we didn't have a Christmas, we wouldn't have an Easter either, would we? It's because of Jesus that many of us celebrate during the season. We should celebrate His coming year-round! We often get easily caught up in the rush of the season with purchasing presents and buying Christmas trees and making a yummy dinner, and don't "have time" to really think about the true meaning of it all until it's time to read the Christmas story and sing songs. I say that it's about time to make time. We should all challenge ourselves this year to take some time here and there throughout the rush of the season to stop and remember what it's all about. The light of the world will be with us throughout the whole year! Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!