The Night Before Christmas

As a child, I remember waiting each year for the classic Christmas story, The Night Before Christmas to be read to me. Mom always tucked the book away after Christmas, not bringing it out until mid-December. I sat on one side of Mom, and my sister on the other, and we listened to the story night after night.

Then in a flash of time, I found myself in adulthood reading it to my children. My voice had the same intonation as my mom’s when she’d read it to me.


My grandson was next as I read the famous story. Now he’s almost an adult.


I just read it to my granddaughter this year. Her great-grandmother’s voice came through my own as I recited the familiar words.




There is a perfect season in a child’s life when the hardest things to deal with are eating vegetables and having play time end. Children are the reason we do so much of what we do. We know that they depend on us, and even when it can be thankless, it’s purposeful. They are the next generation—the lives that will carry on after our own. 


So, as you celebrate in the ways you enjoy, I’ll tell you about my reason for celebrating this season. For me, it isn’t about Santa, or the gifts, it’s about Jesus, and the love and life he came to offer. In a world like ours, it’s not always easy to see the love. But it’s there.



When I think of that first Christmas, I can imagine those frightened shepherds when they were visited by a multitude of angels announcing the birth of Jesus. The angels didn’t visit the wealthy or the super religious—they came to the shepherds—the discriminated ones in their society. 


“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:9

The announcement was brought to the lowest—but it was good news for ALL the people.

And it still is good news.

That is the best story I can ever share. Merry Christmas, my friends.



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