My spirit has rejoiced in God, My Savior.

How does this look, practically speaking? Talking this morning about how the Christmas season is flying by, and how there seems to be an undercurrent of melancholy surrounding it. Is it because the season has seemed shorter, due to a late Thanksgiving? Is there a sadness due to the economy, etc? Is the joy of the season overshadowed by the impending winter storm (maybe...)? Something else? I'm not sure...

Above are the words of Mary, from Luke's account of the birth of Jesus. There certainly is joy surrounding the celebration of Christmas, whether you are a Jesus follower or not. That joy may be on the surface, or as a similar undercurrent. I am wondering -- how does one soul rejoice? Is it a bubbling over into our physical being? Words issuing forth? Actions poured out on the world around you? A sense of peace and comfort and goodwill toward men? Not trying to get all grinchy or anything, maybe just navel gazing a bit today, with the skies grey and forecast a tad bleak. I do know, however, that God is God and He came down, Immanuel, to be all we need. The rejoicing today takes form in a smile as I think about this, the wee baby Jesus, sent to redeem us all. It may manifest itself in laughter later, maybe in the melancholy, but the rejoicing goes on no matter what form it takes.