Where is the Christmas?

Christmas. Countless blogs exists about it. Many happy and not so happy memories exist.

For some it's missing a loved one. For others it may be a strained relationship. Some may experience hardships. Some may find themselves many miles away from home.  Our hearts feel tender and seemingly more easily bruised during this time of year. Some years just don't seem so shiny and bright like the years that came before it.

We look for Christmas in the stores. It looks like it's there with all of the beautiful decorations and holiday music. It's there in the Santa hats and all of the gift wrapping stations. But we lose it in the rush to get the next big deal. Or maybe it's lost when we see a gift we long to buy someone but realize that they are gone to us. It's lost in the bills and financial strains. It's lost in the attitudes of fellow shoppers, full parking lots and clerks who can't take no to that electronic protection plan.

We look for Christmas on the radio. It sounds like it's there will all the Silent Nights and Jingle Bells. But a song comes on and reminds you of a memory from long ago that saddens your heart because it reminds you of someone you miss. It leaves you wondering if you are missing something or someone.

We look for Christmas in our homes and families. We hope that our decorations will be beautiful. We try in vain to get those outside lights outside before it snows and a bonus if they all remain lite by Christmastime! We set the fires in the fireplace and light the advent wreathes. We put up our Christmas villages or Christmas trains. We have our families over or go and visit them. We hope they like their gifts that we agonized over. Did we spend enough? Is it the right color? Did we remember to get that gift receipt? We lose the Christmas in all the details.

We look for Christmas in so many places. But where is Christmas?  It seems as we get older, the world can taint us. Our Grinch comes out. Our "Buh Humbugs" come out. Our Christmastimes get a little less shiny. A little more dull. Less sparkly.

I want for you to have a Merry Christmas.  I want it to be a magical time of the year. I want it to be everything and more for you. I want it to fill you with hope, peace and love. God sent His Son so we can have hope and peace and experience His love. So I hope you can find the Christmas that you are intended for. Not a second rate thought or more drama and craziest. The peace and comfort and serenity.