Day 1

December 1st. Let the count down begin. Since the music and decorations have been out in some stores since Halloween, the coming of Christmas may seem, shall we say, anti-climactic?!? I held out until after Thanksgiving -- no music, no lights, no stopping to see Santa. Now, today, bring it on! The decorations are all hung, the music at the house is all Christmas music, and the bedtime stories are centered around this great and glorious day that will be here before we know it and yet will seem like it is taking forever in coming.

We started a tradition a few years ago with our Nativity scene at home; We tuck the baby Jesus in a box (with another manger scene painted on it) and the poor baby waits until bedtime on Christmas eve to make his appearance. The wee babe even made the road trip to the grandparent's house one year as Kristyn couldn't bear to leave Him home and in the box until we got back. It drives my kids crazy that Jesus has to stay in that little box for the better part of the month, and they can't wait to let Him out.

It's funny how so many of us are like that; we love Christmas, we are all about the warm fuzzy feelings caused by the songs, lights, snow, traditions, spiked eggnog...seems like there are a lot of people who do opposite of us at this time of year. They are all about Jesus for a month or so, and even make the trip to church on Christmas eve to make the season complete. Then, come 25 December or shortly thereafter, Jesus goes back in the box until next year. Maybe this year, as we prepare to celebrate the coming of our Lord, we might consider the boxes we put Him in the rest of the year, and how we might be if we were willing to let Him out a bit more often.