And it is my absolute favorite!

What do I love about this time of year?

• First of all, it’s the music that plays everywhere you go at Christmas time. You can be shopping for presents or in the grocery store, you can even be at the gas station and hear all the familiar music of this season. What is so beautiful to me is the message of the birth of Jesus that gets spread everywhere! Even people who say they don’t believe in Jesus sing along with Christmas Carols. One of my favorites is “O Come, All Yea Faithful” song by Passion with Melodie Malone. It is absolutely beautiful!
• Second, are the decorations. Who doesn’t love lights and sparkle? It is everywhere this season. From the lighted trees to the decorations on homes. Everywhere you look there are lights in every color. Some twinkle and some blink and some glow. I love decorating my home with candles. Real flame candles and battery-operated ones. I have them everywhere at Christmas time. When I moved to Florida I said I wouldn’t put up a Christmas Tree but I just couldn’t help myself and I bought a Pencil Tree (a skinny one) and it has gone up every year!
• Third, are the gift-giving opportunities at this time of year. I find all kinds of excuses to give away gifts; cookies and poinsettias and smiles and….well, you get the point. It is a chance to let your generosity shine. One of my favorite cookie giveaways is Gingersnap Cookies. It is a recipe from my first cookbook, Better Homes and Gardens.

Gingersnaps: Combine 3/4 cup shortening, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup molasses, and 1 egg till fluffy. Sift together 2 1/4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, stir into the molasses mixture. Form in small balls. Roll in granulated sugar, place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen.

Each of these expresses the character of Jesus!

The music tells the story of the birth of Jesus. The traditional carols remind us of the shepherds that came to worship Him. Even the Wise Men followed the Star to give Him gifts from faraway places. The Bible says we, as Believers, are called to be a light shining brightly. We aren’t to stay hidden but we are like a city on a hill, shining so the world can see and be drawn to Jesus!

Because Christmas is in December, the last month of the year, I find myself reflecting on the year past and the year coming. I look at my successes and my failures of the last 11 months and challenge myself to make some needed changes in the year New Year.

Let this season of Christmas and the final month of 2022 be one for you to take time to enjoy and reflect on. Make it significant this year in whatever way you can. Allow the season to bring the best out of you and then be your best for everyone you encounter. God’s goodness is what draws people to Him and He uses us to spread that goodness.

Have a Blessed Christmas as you Celebrate the birth of Our Savior, JESUS!