Christmas with all the trimmings

December seems to come around quicker every year and true to form the 1st December 2016 came hurtling into our home. We like to decorate the home early on in the month and my little helpers were eager to trim the tree. Down from the loft came the tree and trimmings and on the first day of December the Christmas music came out and we merry people got busy and transformed our home for the festive period. When we were first married we decided that each year of marriage we would add to our collection of ornaments and trimmings seeing as how expensive this time of year can be. So our very first Christmas we had a real fir tree with some lights on and a few baubles, simplicity was the word. 9 years down the line and our real fir tree turned into a fake one (I love the smell of real trees but the fake one was bought for financial reasons as we were expecting a child, but I hope to return to the real fir trees one day), and a collection of ornaments mainly involving woodland critters are now scattered over our tree. We have a couple of wreaths and some robbins and pine cones are scattered over our windowsill.

Christmas growing up was always eagerly anticipated. I loved helping my mum trim the tree. She gave me the job of hanging the snowflakes throughout the branches. I took great care in my assigned role, making sure they were evenly spaced. The snowflakes themselves were beautifully shimmery and glistened from the Christmas lights. My dad and brothers would be sitting watching a Christmas film drinking shandys and there would undoubtedly be some kind of Christmas foodie treat, normally homebaked. As a child I saw our Christmas tree go through various colourful transformations as my mum searched to find the perfect tree and trimmings, but those snowflakes and an owl (which my oldest brother had the honour of placing each year) were constant amongst the ever changing decorations.

Christmas as a child was fun and exciting with a little stress thrown in as my mum frantically tried to get everything in place for the big day, and as a child I never knew something was missing, because something was missing. None of us knew. We had presents and food, family games and films, chocolate and laughter...but there was a hole in our Christmas that no amount of money or time could fill. You see I grew up in a family who didn't know Christ. There was no Christ in our Christmas. To us it was a time to be with family, take a break and eat good food. My mum's Christmas dinner was epic! I mean 3 courses of tantalizingly mouth-watering food. Some years my parents would drop in at a carol service or a christingle service, no matter how many santas and reindeers you see in the shops, angels and babies in mangers are scattered through shelves of Christmas decorations. No matter how hard retailers and shoppers try to push Christ away, the image of new life resting quietly in the manger can still be found on Christmas cards, in Christmas baubles and in nativity scenes. People may try to close their eyes to what they see and close their ears to the words of the Christmas carols but Christ can not be erased from Christmas.

The children at my church are learning a song for their yearly Christmas performance. Here are the words:

Unto Us A Child Is Born

(CHORUS)

Unto us a child is born, 

Unto us a son is given. 

He shall reign in all the earth, 

He will be called Emmanuel!

Angel voices sing, 

Hallelujahs ring, 

For today in Bethlehem the love of God has come to men, 

The Saviour of the world is Christ the King! 

CHORUS
 

Leave your cares aside, 

Seek and you will find, 

For today in Bethlehem the love of God has come to men, 

The Saviour of the world is Jesus Christ! 

CHORUS

Come let us adore, 

Now and evermore. 

For today in Bethlehem the love of God has come to men, 

The Saviour of the world is Christ the Lord! 

CHORUS

There is a catchy tune to go with this song. My children are singing it, I'm singing it. I'm thankful that from young ages my home will speak of Christ not only throughout the festive season but throughout the year as well. I did not grow up with this priviledge but God is full of grace and mercy. It is with great joy that I tell you that my parents are now able to rejoice in the good news of Jesus Christ. They have left their cares aside, they sought for a saviour and they have found Christ the Lord. Together we can raise our voices with the angels and sing our hallelujahs. A few months ago I watched my parents publically declare their faith and belief in Jesus as they were baptised. Now this Christmas their home will be one where Jesus is loved. I know my mum and there will still be a feast on the table, there will still be those shimmering snowflakes and perfectly placed decorations, there will still be games and laughter, but best of all there will be Christ!