Thanksgiving came and went. I gave thanks for a home, my children and grandchildren, and then I went shopping on Black Friday. Went shopping again to Rice’s—a first—and was awed at the great bargains. Planned for semi-formal and formal dinner dances, even got my nails done. Soon I’ll package and ship gifts for my grandkids and breathe a sigh of relief if I get that done before I have to use “Priority Shipping.” No different from previous years, unfortunately.

Like the photo above, I’ll put out the decorations that include angels and Santas. But if you look VeRy closely at the picture, you will see, under the lower Santa’s feet, there is a tiny crèche. I sadly admit this represents approximately the amount of attention I have spent on the spiritual aspect of the Christmas holiday. I will think about and sing about the significance of Christ’s coming as a human being to Earth while I’m in church. And at a community “Holiday Gathering” I will work to promote a spirit of good will to all by singing carols and giving out free hot chocolate and cookies to several hundred kiddies.

My hope is this…that I will be pierced in the heart with the depth of importance and implications of the event of two-thousand years ago when God became man in the form of a newborn baby who came to Earth with one purpose—to take on himself the penalty for the sins of mankind—my sins, so that I would not have to suffer the full consequences of my wrongdoings. In the years I have lived, they are innumerable. If I dare to remember them, I could slip into hopelessness and despair. But because God has put on Jesus Christ the punishment I’ve deserved, I can live freely, without a trace of guilt, and look forward to a reward I don’t deserve—eternal life with God in Heaven. May my focus this December be gratitude to my Savior and give him the gift of my heart.