I celebrated Christmas with my daughter Shelly, and her husband Scott, from Iowa on the Wednesday before Christmas Eve. With so many of their family schedules and commitments this Christmas season, it looked like it was going to be the only time we could get together. So they drove the four-hour drive here. We spent three wonderful, joyful hours together, and then they returned home.
The Christmas celebration continued with my daughter LaDawn, and her family in Oak Grove on the Saturday before Christmas Eve. It was a delightful afternoon with grandchildren and great grandchildren, and all the excitement and commotion that goes along with children when they see all the gifts under the tree. Their anticipation was contagious. They could hardly wait to open their gifts, and the adults were equally eager to watch them open them.
Joyful music and a wonderful message on the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem 2000 years ago radiated at the afternoon Christmas Eve church service. After the service, my sister had plans, so I returned home.
Then it was Christmas Eve.
I looked at the Christmas tree with its off lights, and suddenly it struck me. I am home alone on Christmas Eve! I have never, ever been home alone on Christmas Eve before. As the realization washed over me, a tiny ripple of feeling sorry for myself began to trickle into my heart.
But then, the Holy Spirit interrupted with an almost-audible whisper. “This is the perfect night to spend with Jesus.”
What was I thinking, I chided myself with the typical slap to my forehead.
I turned on the tree lights, put a fire in the fireplace, turned on soft Christmas music, and grabbed my Bible. The fireplace cast a warm glow that filled the room, the tree lights twinkled, and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” played in the background.
I read Luke’s account of the Christmas story, and as I read the part of the birth of Jesus, I sensed His presence and felt His tender arms around my shoulders and the warm glow of His infinite love. I realized that I was not home alone after all! I spent the evening mesmerized with the fire’s flickering and listened to “Angels We have Heard on High.” And the joy, the peace, and the love of Christmas flooded my soul.
I never imagined a Christmas Eve could be so perfect! This Christmas will definitely be the most memorable Christmas ever! And to think, I would have missed this beautiful night had I not been home alone.
May the anticipation of Jesus’ second coming to earth fill your hearts and your thoughts, like those of the first Christmas, in the coming new year.