Decorations for the Home and Heart

While shopping before Thanksgiving, I noticed the gala of the holidays happening in the stores: Trees glistening, trains and baby dolls, candies for baking, etc. The excitement starts to build in not only the stores, but in our homes and hearts. The Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier in the stores and the malls.

We see friends and families starting to put their own trees up, before one holiday is over, to begin the celebration of Christmas.

Our children have started their own traditions in their homes. 
One of our daughters in law places a tiny plastic pickle, hidden somewhere deep in the tree, for the children to find. The first one to spot the pickle gets to open the first present on Christmas morning. Our little granddaughter was literally lying under the tree, looking up, trying to find the green pickle!  

Another of our daughters in law has 'Candy Cane' and 'Snowflake', an elf for each child, appear each Dec 1 to "report to Santa". (They even brought tiny marshmallows when they showed up this year!)

We have laughed and joined in the fun of the holidays as we have seen the twinkle in the eyes of our grandchildren as they have discovered the joys of Christmas.  

While reading last night about Bethlehem, the article told of the decorations and lights that are sent to the little town, from all over the world, this time of year. Even some Muslims like to put up a tree and join in the celebrations! (But they do not believe Jesus is the son of God)

It made me begin to think. Even those who do not believe like to celebrate Christmas. I do not think there is anything wrong with any of these things, from the pickle to the Muslims putting up a tree. It is all part of the season of joy and peace. But, there are two questions: 

1. How would the birth been different, if people had known long ago? Would they have decorated the town of Bethlehem? Would Jesus have had a bed fit for a King?  
2. Since we now know He was/is the coming King, should we celebrate all year long? Should we be as excited about Jesus in January as we are in December? 

The answer would be to keep Jesus in you heart all year, sharing His love with others. Let us, as Christians, not let the secular world beat us when it comes to celebrating Christ! When people come to your home, do they know Jesus lives there? The way we live our lives, do people know Jesus lives in your heart? The way we dress, talk and act, do we glorify Him?  

Let us begin today, not only to decorate our home for the Christmas season, but let us begin to decorate our 'hearts'. Let us begin to show others His love when we walk out our doors. Let us show in the decorations in our home, in our hearts and in our lives, that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord. Let us begin to let the joy of Jesus be shared all year long.  

May our life, actions, and works glorify our Father in heaven!
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (ESV

Merry CHRISTmas,
gs