THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS
My eyes popped open suddenly. It was pitch black, the dead of morning. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand with the giant red digital letters. It was hours before there would be any sign of sunlight. I had more to do than I could get done in a day, regardless of how early I got started. It’s easy to get so busy that we can’t feel the magic of Christmas.
It’s nine days before Christmas, which doesn’t seem possible, and I haven’t sniffed the idea of getting around to Christmas shopping. We haven’t even finished decorating the Christmas tree.
I’m long past due for a haircut and I don’t think I’ve got my truck washed but once this year… and it was a long time ago now. When you’re busy you gotta pick your priorities.
When we get busy it’s easy to forget about the things that we should value the most. Losing sight of the finest things in life comes far too easy when life gets busy and we get distracted.
Our Christmas party was last night… A lot of the people I haven’t seen in a year, since the last Christmas party. There are new faces. And some of the folks, like myself, are the older faces… and another year shows on most of us…
I never thought I’d have to fight to get in the Christmas spirit, to feel the “Magic of Christmas”, but with each chapter of life comes new challenges.
One of the men at the party last night was diagnosed with cancer and the doctors gave him about three to six months to live… that was a year and a half ago. He’s beating the odds and cancer, but the fight has taken its toll.
It’s easy to be in the Christmas spirit when you’re a kid. It’s easy to be in the spirit when your kids are young or even older but still at home, but not so easy after…
“Be still and know that I AM GOD.”
Days like to today I’m reminded that I need to slow down and take some time to contemplate that Psalm. To count my blessings. To see that this earth does indeed declare His majesty. And to feel His spirit in me and acknowledge the sacrifice and grace in which I’m washed.
Having done that… it’s impossible to not feel the Magic of Christmas. The beauty of age is that the magic no longer comes from the outside, It comes from within…
Dikkon Eberhart
Sunday, December 16, 2018 @ 6:39 pm
I love your one sentence paragraphs as this unfolds–such development of tension. I love your conclusion, relieving it in one direction but setting it off in another. Bless you, friend. You’re a good writer and a perceptive man.
Pam
Monday, December 17, 2018 @ 3:52 am
So much truth here, Floyd. It seems you and I are in the same stage of life. This Christmas Dick and I will be alone–our son and his family will be in China visiting his wife’s relatives and our daughter was just here at Thanksgiving and has no vacation time left. It will be very strange. But it is also affording Dick and I the opportunity to help out with a dinner for the community, something we have often wanted to do but always had other commitments. So there are blessings of a different nature this year. Thanks for sharing your heart, Floyd. Your words always make me take the time to reflect.
bill (cycleguy)
Monday, December 17, 2018 @ 4:31 am
Must be an epidemic this year. Both the busyness and the hunt for the Christmas spirit. I usually “glow” this time of year. Not so much. Chalk it up to the busyness. You know…church work. Outside activities. Even my Tommy James Christmas CD has not been playing much. Now you know its bad! 🙂 But there is a solution. “Be still.” Good point Floyd.
Martha J Orlando
Monday, December 17, 2018 @ 7:03 am
Yes, Floyd, sadly Christmas is not always “the most wonderful time of the year,” especially when we allow the busyness of life take control of our spirit. A great help to me this season has been reading Christmas Crossroads by Jean Wise (it’s on Amazon). You might want to give it a try, brother!
In the meantime, just be still and know . . .
Blessings!
Lisa notes
Monday, December 17, 2018 @ 11:31 am
I feel you, Floyd. So this post is a great reminder to me, too. Be still and know. He is God.
Betty J Draper
Monday, December 17, 2018 @ 11:55 am
Last year it was me that got slowed down with heart surgery and knee surgery. This year it is my husband who has had to slow down due to health issues, a defibulator was put in him to actually prevent his heart from racing. He has one more week before he can raise his arm above his shoulder. Now his knee is causing him to walk like I did before my surgery. Every time he grunt when he gets up or sit down I just give a small chuckle and tell him I love him and his grunts. It’s hard to be tied down with being busy which is a limitation in itself. It’s a heart issue really. One can be busy and their heart quiet before the Lord. For me it’s always been being content in what ever season I am in and I have been in a few that seemed impossible to keep my mind on Him. Trusting His power in the indwelling Spirit to remind me He is with me in all times. Merry Christmas brother.
Cheryl
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 @ 11:09 am
So, so true, brother. We can become so jaded, as we grow older, but like you said, the magic starts to come from within instead of without. Your writing is such a blessing and always leaves me inspired and encouraged. Thank you for sharing your amazing gifts with us here. I hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas season!
Hazel Moon
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 @ 9:08 pm
Christmas is not the same as when we were kids, yet there is excitement and I did purchase a small fake tree, as my large one was too big. I donated my big tree to a ministry who told me they would find a family. My tree ended up at church and the girls put it together and decorated it. I am enjoying my old tree still, even if it is not in my home. My daughter Judie and her husband came for Thanksgiving, so they are doing their family Christmas down south and will go to Knotts Berry Farm for the day. My newly married grandson and his wife are busy working and can’t make it, but most of us will be here at my home for the dinner and opening gifts. I did get some small gifts, but will also give $$$ in a card to all who are here to purchase what they prefer. I will be cooking this year, but it will probably be my last Holiday cooking. My kitchen table is a folding long table and I will add a shorter one so everyone can get around. When company leaves, I plan to take down the table and maybe gift it to someone. I have a round oak table that will come in it’s place. My chairs don’t match, so my plans are to purchase 4 chairs from an Amish work shop close by that does beautiful wood work. I miss my Robert, and dream of him and me doing things together. One night in my dream he got into our car and told me to “Stay there because I need to go take care of some things, but I shall be back to get you later.” I do hope it is much later, because there is still things I need to do. A week ago, my computer crashed, and Nancy and Randy came and worked on it and also on my new i-phone. Somehow, I can’t log into my blog. A message from Google tells me I am not an author on any blog and would I like to have a new blog. I sent the some feedback, so I hope they listen to me. I also lost my log in to YouTube to place new video’s on the same site. Anyway, My I-phone works for my Wednesday messages at “Praying Over our City” meeting, that go straight to FaceBook. I may need to use my phone to complete my series, “Who is Jesus?” The huge fires that virtually destroyed the near by city of Paradise, did not come my way. I have a small guest mobile, that I advertised to rent to displaced persons from the fire and a senior couple were happy to move in and plan to stay at least a year until they and their insurance company can help them secure a new mobile home. They are Christians, and he has a good job at FoodMaxx. Anyway, there are a LOT of people in our area who are finding Christmas is not so Merry for them. Housing is hard to find, but God is also at work in the lives and hearts of our citizens. This is the season to remind ourselves the true meaning is to remember why we celebrate Christmas at all. Jesus Christ left the beauty and Royalty of heaven to come to earth to be born in a stable, to grow up to be rejected, criticized, and crucified to be the sacrifice for our sins. While we may not know the actual date of his birth, Dec 25th has been set aside for us to remember. To remember that the Angels sang, Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men, because a Savior has been born. God is so good to me and to you, just to allow us to celebrate another Christmas with our loved ones. Merry Christmas to you and yours Floyd, and may your new year bring you good health, prosperity and also time to smell the roses and relax at times.
Barb Raveling
Tuesday, January 8, 2019 @ 4:56 pm
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas Floyd and that your 2019 is all you want it to be! We had three of our kids here over the holidays which was fun!