The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Today is December 13th. DECEMBER 13TH! Santa Claus is at Walgreens (yes, Santa goes to Walgreens. Twice this year, actually!), I just returned from Christmas shopping, and my car radio is set on Christmas music stations. I know it's December 13th, and I know Christmas is less than two weeks away. I'm just not sure HOW we got to this point.

The last month has been a whirlwind of Romanian, Walgreens, teaching...and a brief break from all of that to spend time with family and friends at Thanksgiving. Which was wonderful. I remembered how fun it can be to have a social life! :-) Now, Romanian is done (my final was on Monday), my weeks teaching in youth are over for now, and yes indeed the wonders of working retail at Christmas are setting in. Would you believe this is my 7th Christmas in retail? I have decided that whoever wrote that this is "the most wonderful time of the year" apparently never had finals and obviously NEVER worked in retail. My old roommate, in an attempt to avoid working on her own final projects, researched this and discovered that it is indeed true.

In the middle of all that craziness, I've needed the reminder of why we celebrate this season. I've KNOWN it my whole life, but how easily I forget. How many people out shopping today understand that the reason we celebrate this holiday has nothing to do with huge TVs or new DVDs? It has nothing to do with those, but has everything to do with our Heavenly Father loving us enough to give His Son. It has everything to do with God becoming man, being born as a baby, with the realization that ultimately He would die for the sins of those who He has called to be His children. We celebrate Christmas to remember that, but I've lost the awe. I've forgotten how WONDERFUL that is. I've forgotten that this season truly is worth celebrating. Think about it! "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"! Why? Because the plan of His Father, from ages past, was to save His people from their sins. In spite of ourselves, He loves us. Wow. Yes, this season truly IS worth celebrating.