Declaring a Holiday

Had your fill of the campaign trail? Worn out with news of the economy? Anyone in need of a break from it all? Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’m declaring a holiday. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) says, “To everything there is a season…”, and I say today’s a season for fun. A little holly, jolly holiday right in the middle of the muck, smack dab in the midst of the doom and gloom.

Yes, I said holly jolly. You’re right, I’m talking Christmas! Now don’t groan — I know it’s way too early, but today’s a day for fun. Let’s get merry!

Think about it with me. Not the stressful part — not shopping lists or crowded malls or too few hours in the day. For a few moments, let’s treat our minds to a mini-vacation and think about the good stuff. The parts of Christmas we love. Let’s give ourselves permission to slow down and savor our thoughts.

Go ahead and imagine your favorite moments of the season. Picture them in your mind. Drink in the details: the sights, the sounds, the aromas you love. And the people you happily share them with. Softly sing your favorite Christmas carol and feel the contentment…feel the peace…as it permeates your soul.

Feeling Christmasy yet? :) I hope so. I want you to feel relaxed and happy and looking forward to some of your favorite things.

Me? I look forward to the beauty of the season, all the lights and decorations. I look forward to watching White Christmas yet again and listening to Christmas music throughout the holidays. I can’t wait to taste a piece of fudge and then balance it out with our not-too-rich, oh-so-delicious Christmas cut-out cookies. And above all this, I look forward to our kids coming home, the excitement of their arrival and the fun we have together. But in all these things, the underlying joy is Jesus. I treasure the worship Christ’s birth inspires, the days of celebrating Him.

Aren’t you glad I declared this little holiday? Before you settle back into mid-October, why not share your holiday spirit? What are some of your favorite things about Christmas? What are you looking forward to? Come on and leave a merry comment — remember, today’s the season for fun!

*Flickr photo by American Society of Student Governments

Comments

  1. I like to decorate my house. We just put out all the fall leaves, tied a ribbon around a big, fat pumpkin, and added splashes of orange, brown, and gold. When Thanksgiving is over, I’ll haul out all the Christmas stuff.

    I think one of my favorite parts about any season is doing this – it makes things feel fresh and new just to change things up a bit.

    As for Christmas, I collect nativity scenes. I enjoy getting them out and finding a special place for each.

  2. My perfect day during the holidays…listening to Christmas music while reading from the Gospel of Luke…

  3. I love the smells of Christmas, Cheryl. Turkey roasting. Cinnamon and apples and ginger mingling together. Wood burning. Candle wax. Cookies baking. Evergreens.

    Those aromas bring back happy memories over the past 60 years.

    Merry Christmas.
    Joyous Noel.

    Jean
    http://www.jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com
    http://www.jeanmatthewhallwords.blogspot.com

  4. Like my mother, I love the Christmas season! She taught me all about Christmas baking, so I look forward to making sweet treats while the Christmas music is playing!

    There are many things I love about Christmas and another is decorating the Christmas tree! It was such a tradition in our house growing up, that when I went to college, I got my own tree and decorated it, to the surprise of my roommates :) Now, I enjoy decorating the tree with my husband. We have started collecting Christmas ornaments on trips that we take, to remind us of our adventures together!

  5. Hey gals, thanks to all who shared some of the things you most enjoy about the Christmas season. I enjoyed reading each one. I wish more readers would have “played” with us! :)

  6. Oh Cheryl, I LOVE this! Usually, I’m a little militant about starting Christmas too early. But, I’ve been thinking along the same lines this year…we “need a little Christmas, right this very minute…we need a little Christmas NOW!”

    I’m off to download Travis Cottrell’s Christmas CD and I’m going to LISTEN to it (Ha! another rule broken!!). And, who knows, I might pop White Christmas in the DVD player, too! It’s my absolute favorite!

    Happy Holiday!
    Melinda

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