Oh what a wonderful child...

Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year.
I celebrate Christmas for what it means to me...not necessarily what it means to the rest of the world.

I've never been a big decorator. No tree. No twinkling lights. No fake snow in the windows.
The decorations are in my heart. In my soul. In my memories and future.

I remember getting Mom and Dad out of bed at 5am to open presents when my age was still in the single digits. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the baby doll that cried real tears after I fed it a tiny white bottle full of water. I also did not understand why Mom and Dad went back to bed and to sleep; leaving us kids wide awake. Strange parents I had. Now I understand. Completely.

I remember the first Christmas I had a job and a car...went shopping and bought gifts by myself for my family and friends. The first Christmas I learned the meaning of “more blessed to give than to receive”, and it is still the best feeling.

I remember the first Christmas without Dad. It was a somber Holiday, but somehow it came and went and we were all stronger after it was over.

I remember the first Christmas with my first niece. She was so tiny and perfect. She helped fill the emptiness in the family and now there are a total of 9 “babies” when we add them all together.

I remember the first awkward Christmas dinner when I went with Jason to his parents house. We had been dating a whole 21 days. Still fondly remember playing games around the kitchen table and those two fun teenage boys who turned into my nephews. In fact, there eventually became four nephews, two nieces and four greats who came into my life with love.

I remember the first Christmas Jason and I were engaged. He asked me to make a list of some things I liked so he could pick me out a gift. He rolled up in that white pick up...and hauled in half of Lowes and Walmart. He bought every single thing on that list, along with some other things he thought I'd like. I was so overwhelmed, and have been ever since.

I remember two years later and 15 years ago, we were married in a candlelight Christmas wedding, complete with carols, red roses, cold rain and friends – oh the beautiful friends who helped us celebrate.

I remember 11 years ago, we had our first Christmas with an almost-three month old baby boy. His big blue eyes and crazy ways have changed our lives forever. His hugs are still the snowman melting kind.

I remember this morning. We had a Christmas service at church and it was the first time our boy played the drums at church as we sang "Jesus, What a Wonderful Child." All I ask is for our son to have a love for the ways of God, and all those other things in life will fall into place.

And I know if Mary loved her baby half as much as I love mine, I am sure she had tears in her eyes and in her heart – knowing he would be the sacrifice for the world.

Knowing that men and women alike would love and hate her most precious firstborn.

Knowing that He was only borrowed for a few years, and that He would one day be the most wonderful Savior, Friend, Deliverer, King, Prince of Peace.

See, it's not about my favorite Nativity Scene, the parades, trees and bright lights which reminds us of the star over the small family in the stable - when there was no room in the inn.
It's not about the gifts we so carefully select to represent the honor and love we have for each other, like the wise men did many years ago for the newborn Jesus.
It's not about packing up and dragging all the kids and the head colds to Granny and Papaw's house like the shepherds did when when they heard the glad tiding of the Angels.

It's because that tiny baby grew up into a man – the Son of God – who in return loved us so much that He died for our sins. That miracle of the red blood could wash our black souls and make them white as the driven snow and the pure wool.

And that leads to my favorite time of the year: Easter.

No, my favorite time never ends. It just keeps building and stacking. The present keeps turning into memories that have special places in my heart.

All because of Jesus. Oh What a Wonderful Child.