Do You Have Christmas in Your Heart?

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under the tree. (Roy L. Smith)

It's been great reading the messages that have come in with the contest entries of all of your favorite things at Christmas and to see that you do have Christmas in your hearts. In fact, after I asked you to name your favorite thing about Christmas when you entered my Christmas Giveaway Contest, many of you said it's too hard to pick one thing. You have so much you love about Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. 

As you might expect, being with family has been often mentioned. We do love sharing this time of year with those we love.

One reader wrote: My favorite thing about the Christmas holiday is probably Christmas morning, being in our pjs and opening gifts with my hubby and kids. My husband always reads about Jesus being born from the Bible before we open gifts.

We also remember and miss those who are celebrating Christmas in heaven. I liked how this reader made memories of those gone on part of her family's Christmas while making new fun memories for the youngsters. 

She wrote: My favorite thing about Christmas is the ability to share the family stories with the younger ones so it feels like my grandparents are still around. We have had duct tape Christmases and hiding presents treasure hunts. Christmas is a time of remembering and making new memories.

Many readers talked about how much they enjoy the traditional Christmas music and some of the newer Christmas songs too like "Mary, Did You know?" That's a song that stirs my heart and one that was mentioned several times in the e-mail entries I've received so far. Music has a way of getting our Christmas spirit charged up and help us feel the spiritual joy of the season.

Here's what one reader said: How can you list only one favorite thing about Christmas? They shift every year, but right now It would have to be the tears flowing down my face as I listen to and/or sing the songs. Favorites are Mary Did You Know, O Holy night, and of course, Silent Night.

But there are other beautiful things to hear at Christmas time as this reader tells us. She loved the songs and more. 

 I love the SOUNDS of the season. Favorite Christmas carols, popular secular music, hearing the joy and laughter in children's voices and the friendly greetings that are more often spoken at this time of year~~all of these bring me joy.

The act of decorating and getting your house and yard and heart ready for Christmas was a favorite for some of you. You like going to special Christmas worship services. You even like stringing up Christmas lights and baking those cookies and cakes. So many ways to celebrate this special season and find Christmas in your heart. 

This reader listed some she loved. My favorite thing about Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus, getting together with family, and all the beautiful lights and decorations.

But then there are the children who light up our lives and make us so ready to keep the spirit of Christmas bright in our homes and churches. 

Here's one reader's short favorite thing message. She simply says, Looking through the eyes of a child at Christmas.

May we all have the childlike spirit we need in order to find Christmas in our heart. "Joy to the world! The Lord is come."

Do you have Christmas in your heart this year? 

(Remember, if you haven't already entered my Christmas giveaway, you can enter by leaving a comment here, but you have to leave a way to contact you. Details here. Drawing is December 31.)

Blessings by the Bushel





 

The unthankful heart …discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds iron, so it will find in every hour, some heavenly blessings!  ~ Henry Ward Beecher

I have so many blessings to count on Thanksgiving Day that it would take me a while if I tried to even name only the biggest blessings. And how can you give a size to blessings. All blessings are good and make our life better. Sometimes at our church we talk about the everyday blessings, and isn’t it great that we can count those blessings everyday. A couple of my everyday blessings in my bushel of blessings are sunshine and a beautiful place to live. It’s a blessing that I can walk on my farm and take pictures to remember the beauty of the day and to share with my friends here on the net. My Facebook friends like it when I post something I spot on my walks. I’ve put out photos of snakes and buzzards, flowers and trees, frogs and cows, mushrooms and rocks. I guess I could call all of them everyday blessings.  

Of course, a beautiful family is a blessing I’m glad to have in my bushel of blessings and especially the grandkids in the family. I’m thankful for children who can run and play. I’m thankful my great-niece is finished with her cancer treatments and can be with the other children to have a good time. I’m thankful for curious children who like to check out lady bugs and worms.

I’m thankful I can write stories that some of you like to read. I’ve always wanted to tell stories and I feel blessed that I’ve been able to follow that dream for all these years.

I’m thankful for my mother even though things are hard right now for her and for us. But so many great years we’ve had together. Family is such a great blessing. My church family and friends too.  And you. I’m thankful that you take the time to share my journal here. You are in my bushel of blessings.

So many great blessings. I’ll be counting for weeks, and I can hope for good health and good sense, too.

Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings. ~Publilius Syrus

Wishing you both in this Thanksgiving season. As always, thanks for reading, and I’d love to hear what you have in your bushel of blessings.