My blogging schedule may be a little different during the Christmas season–possibly more often, and probably not strictly Tuesdays and Fridays. Just so you know. 🙂
For much of my growing up years, one of our stand-by Christmas cassettes was Psalty’s Christmas Calamity. (Any 1980’s-born readers raised on Psalty the Singing Songbook out there?) I’m fond of Psalty; the touches of zaniness don’t hide the deep truths and often beautiful music. My family still sings “Psalty” songs today.
One tune that crops up at least once around the Advent Wreath each December came from this well-loved Christmas tape. In the story, Psalty and the Kids Praise Kids are getting ready to sing at their church’s Christmas Eve service. But when the kids decide Psalty’s dusty pages need a bath, the resulting shrinkage renders their musical numbers worthy of a chipmunk choir. Everyone declares Christmas ruined…until one little girl reminds everyone that “Christmas Is a Time to Love.”
It’s something I often need to be reminded of, myself. In this season when calendars pack and to-do lists stretch and patience can run thin, I need to be reminded why we have Christmas. That, as the song says, things may not go the way we hoped, look or sound just as we think they should, but it really doesn’t have to matter, if we keep our focus in the right place.
Christmas is about love…God’s love for a weary and sin-sick world, shown in a tiny Baby born to a humble family in less-than-ideal circumstances. The love He would grow up to show in befriending us, healing us, dying for us, conquering death and all the yuck in this world for us.
And “if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” ~ I John 4:11
Help us do that this season, Lord.