"Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat.
Please put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a half penny will do.
If you haven't got a half penny, then God bless you."
Traditional English Christmas rhyme

Christmas is coming, indeed! O Henry once wrote, "The magi, as you know, were wise men - wonderfully wise men who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents." If there is no joyous way to give a festive gift, give your love away freely

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I have often thought, it happens very well that Christmas should fall out in the middle of winter. It breaks up the bleakness that is winter into something joyous.

Secular scholars will argue the actual date of the birth of Jesus but even the most hardcore nonbeliever will not deny his existence. The atheist will take the legal holiday off, as will those of other faiths. For that one day we are all together.

I pray that dysfunctional families will function, if just for a moment so they feel the love that is given freely to all of us by our dear Lord, Jesus and pass that love on to one another. I may sound sappy but I feel that just by sheer numbers of families on this Earth, the effort of that one moment could translate into a lot of new and fruitful relations.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:5

We are celebrating the birth of a baby, born in a time and place I can't begin to imagine. The politics of the day were nuts, to say the least and the environment was such that life expectancies were short. To make matters worse there were those that wanted that little baby dead.

But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. John 5:42

The politics are such today that many on Earth want our faith in the Baby that would be Jesus extinguished and forgotten, like birthday candles blown out long ago. To those I say I'm sorry but if after 2000 years there is this many believers you should find another avenue for your efforts; perhaps you could help the beggar by the roadside cleaning windscreens for a pocket full of dreams. Pass along a couple of bucks to the hungry and offer aid to the homeless. Your efforts will be much more productive and even though you don't believe, you will feel a moment of the love I mentioned before. A tiny moment of that love is all it takes to profoundly change your life forever.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. John 15:9

It seems, with that line, that John is letting us know that the love of Jesus is contagious and unlike a cold, we should pass it on freely from generation to generation. It's hard for some to use the "L" word but once you do it gets exponentially easier each time after that. Soon, just as Christmas falls out in the middle of winter, love falls out of our heart at every turn. That doesn't sound so bad to me.

I will be watching the movies many consider tradition, such as A Christmas Carol., as I do each year. They may be contrived but they are a festive way to add more joy to the celebration of our saviors' birth. I used to think that maybe Charles Dickens read John 15:9 when he had Scrooge delirious with joy when he finally felt love at the end of the movie; the love that had been passed on throughout generations.

Dust off your favorite Christmas stories and gather with your families. It is after all a birthday celebration and Jesus has invited everyone. Happy Birthday, Jesus! I love you, too!

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
-Charles Dickens, Ebeneezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol