A Journal of Joy: Things that make my heart smile…
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens” are cute but not my favorite things, especially at Christmastime. Have I mentioned that I love Christmas? So here’s a list of just a few of my favorite Christmas things guaranteed to make me smile.
Nativity Scenes: It doesn’t matter if they’re big, little, or miniature scenes, with or without animals. I love them all. Seeing them reminds me about the birth of our Savior, a gift for the world.
Christmas Music: So many of the latter verses of familiar Christmas hymns or carols, the ones that aren’t usually sung, focus on the reason Jesus came. Even piped-in Christmas elevator music has me humming along.
Christmas Cookies: In years past, if my parents couldn’t make it out here to California from the Midwest to celebrate Christmas with us, Mom sent a mega amount of cookies—more than enough to share with everyone. We put them in a huge, red box labeled “Grandma’s Cookies” and snapped pictures of everyone who took one out. The photos were placed in a mini album and sent to her. One Christmas Mom used salt instead of sugar in her cookies. Ah, the joy of aging! We never told her but boy does this memory make us laugh.
The Messiah, Christmas Performances: It’s great to see a performance of The Messiah and sometimes they actually let the audience sing along. This is very nostalgic for me since I sang it in high school and college. “The Hallelujah Chorus” alone is worth the price of admission. I also like live performances of Christmas stage plays and musicals.
Snow: Newborn snow like we see back East or in the Midwest is beautiful. What a miracle snow is! Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike? What a testament to God’s creation.
The Giving Tree: Each year our bank sponsors “The Giving Tree” which allows me to buy gifts for homeless families or toys for needy children. These people have made a little wish list and I have the opportunity to grant it. Imagine the smile of a child who doesn’t have much when he or she receives that special gift.
Christmas Caroling: Some of our friends used to do this in their neighborhood each year a few days before Christmas and we loved going with them. We only sang at the decorated houses so as not to offend. The people we sang to loved it. They gave us cookies and drinks. We felt like we are on an old Currier and Ives postcard.
Reading Christmas Stories: I read O’Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” almost every year. This poignant story captures the true meaning of Christmas. I also love an article by Taylor Caldwell entitled “My Christmas Miracle” which has my favorite Christmas quote: “And this is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.” What a Christmas message! One of the names for Jesus is Immanuel which means God with us! I also love Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” Tiny Tim says, “God bless us everyone!” Amen!
Family Dinner: We always have a meal together. Sometimes it’s a repeat of the turkey dinner we cook for Thanksgiving. The meal is always good, but the family time is better. Sometimes we sing Christmas carols afterwards and open our Secret Santa stockings.
Christmas Movies: Many know that I’m a movie buff so this list could get a little long, but I feel compelled to share it. Some aren’t familiar with the older movies so this might help when trying to choose a family movie to watch during the Christmas season.
- It’s a Wonderful Life (could watch it a hundred times and probably have)
- Miracle on 34th Street (definitely the original, not the remake),
- Christmas in Connecticut (the one with Barbara Stanwyck, not the TV remake)
- A Christmas Story (all he wants for Christmas is a BB gun)
- White Christmas (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney)
- Meet Me in St. Louis (Judy Garland at her best)
- Home Alone 1 (2 is okay but skip 3)
- The Bells of St. Mary’s (Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman)
- The Bishop’s Wife (only the old one with Cary Grant and Loretta Young, not the remake The Preacher’s Wife)
- The Lemon Drop Kid (only the old one with Bob Hope)
- I’ll Be Seeing You (Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotton)
- Elf (William Ferrell)
- The Santa Clause (Tim Allen)
- A Christmas Carol (just about all versions and remakes, including the cartoons)
- All the animated cartoons (except the bizarre ones like Santa Meets the Martians, etc.)
Putting a Dollar in the Salvation Army Pot: When I give a dollar the bell ringers smile and say, “God bless you!” He already has. That’s why I can put a little in the pot for others. Who knows? When they ring that bell maybe another angel gets his wings.
Christmas Shopping: Yes, I said Christmas shopping! I know it’s a hustle and bustle. I know it’s crowded and hectic. I know it’s full parking lots and long checkout lines. But what can I say? I love smiling at any Scrooges I meet and saying, “Merry Christmas!”
Next to giving someone Jesus for Christmas I think the best gift I could give would be trying to reflect Jesus through a smile or kind word. I can’t help but feel that when I smile at others, Jesus smiles at me.
Merry Christmas! God bless us everyone!
*****
Jesus my Jesus, many don’t know You are the reason for this season, but I know. As I go from task to task during this busy time of year help me never lose sight of You. Please use me to be a reflection of You to others, especially at this time of year. It’s a time when many are more receptive to Your message and Your gift of salvation. Joy to the world! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room. I pray there will always be room in my heart for You.
