The dancing snowflakes welcomes my favorite season of the year- Christmas. The flakes dances with grace as if to whisper the coming the coming cold and bitter winter. I love the way the snow looks in the early morning sun. It shimmers and sparkles in anyway possible. But its beauty and wonder heightens at night when the moonlight smiles upon the undisturbed white glittering peace. Seeing the snow makes my heart sing "Silent Night" and think of Psalm 139. Each and every snowflake was uniquely designed...there is no two snowflakes alike. Falling in awe of Our Maker's determination and desire to put much thought into something so microscopic as this- makes me smile. All mankind are like snowflakes too- we're all beautiful, unrepeatable miracles.
Looking at snow also recalls to my mind memories and nosies of screaming with glee and laughter as my sisters and I played outside in the winter wonderland. Oh how many time have I prayed as a child for a snow-in day? Countless times! Using our wildest imaginations to built snow forts, snow angels, snowmen, snow dogs, and a snowball fights, we sure got our daily exercise every time we came into the house with rosy cheeks, frozen noses, our heads and body dripping with sweat as we peel off the layers of clothing. A steamy hot chocolate with marshmallows melting on the top was set before us. After our mother warned us about the hotness of the cup, we blew away some of the dangerous heat and drank slowly and heartedly. As usual, I would add in more marshmallows as soon as they melted as if to meet the status quo that marshmallows must always take 50% of the volume of the cup.
Blowing the dusts off the forgotten boxes that were left deserted in the dark corner of the basement, I carried them upstairs one by one. Opening each of the boxes seemed to play loud, joyful Christmas music. Opening the biggest box, my dad and I set up the Christmas tree. I smiled as I remembered how tall the tree used to be as a child. I used to be in awe of it when I couldn't reach the top without my dad lifting me up to put the old fashioned bright star on the top. Now, I can reach the top with no problem or any help from my dad. I also missed the magical realm of Christmas as a child. I miss those simple times. After untangling the string of lights, my sister and I plug them in with our fingers crossed. A quick thank you prayer shot up to the heavens, when we discovered all the lights worked. With a smile on her face, Carrie stringed all the lights onto the evergreen and artificial Christmas tree.
Putting the ornaments on each branch of the tree flashes my life before my eyes over the years, each ornament was given, made, or bought from different people with different purposes. My faces made a funny face when I pull out ornaments we made over the years for our parents. Some were adorable and some...were in sad shapes. It made me wonder if my parents were hiding a grimace face being the smile when their children gave them such ugly ornaments. In those cases, it was the thought that counted. I admired the detailed paintings of the ornaments my grandmother on the Sneller side gave to each of her grandkids for every year from birth to 18 years old. At the bottom of each, she marked it with the year and the name of the grandchild. I'm amazed that I barely remembered what happened each year especially in 1992, 1996, 0r 1998. Reminding myself to treasure life as a gift, I put them onto the tree to display its beauty. I see the reflection of myself as I hung the brightly colored ornaments on the tree. It's funny. I remember seeing myself in those bulbs over the years. For a second I see a six year old me, a 12 year old me, and a 21 year old me. It's scary how much I have changed both physically and spiritually. I thank God for the changes He in me (and still is) since birth.
We put out the Christmas quilts, candles, stockings, teddybears, snowmans, table runners, and all the other Christmas decorations. We plugged in the lights. In an instant, the home jumped alive with the Christmas spirit. I love how cozy and warm the house feels in this time of the year. It makes me smile.
Honestly, my favorite part about the season is going to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service. There's something amazing about seeing the Christmas trees and lights displayed in its splendor makes the sanctuary like a big welcoming choir. The lights are dimmed as the candlelight danced around each members' face as they hold the light in their hands. As if one body are united for this special occasion. The nativity scene takes center stage with the spotlight shining upon it. My heart warms when I see the baby Jesus. The choir sings happy, cheerful songs like "Hark, the Herald Angel sings..." Sure, Jesus isn't a baby anymore. Jesus grew up in the image of man, lived the perfect live (though struggling with the temptations), ministered to the poor, the social outcasts, to foreigners, to sinners, then gave up His life out of his great love for us. To set us free from the bondage of sin, to be reconciled with Our Maker, to experience His great love, joy, peace, forgiveness, and saving grace. Jesus achieved victory over death. Now all creation wait in anticipation of His second glorious coming. I love Christmas because...we celebrate the Savior's birth. And I love how he was born quietly. He wasn't born with trumpets, cymbals, and all the crazy loud instruments. Nor was He born into a wealthy king's family where he would be adored with gold, silver and fine linen. Or nor was He born into a mighty warrior family to save Israel from the Roman Empire. Nope. God surprised everyone by having Christ born in the humblest way possible- in a manager. It makes me smile knowing that...the world at the time except for a few selected people -Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, etc..- knew that in a small corner of the world, in the town of Bethalem, a history was in the making. They had NO idea what as to come. God did the UNthinkable thing...He let his Son walk into slaughter to save us...why? One word: LOVE.
Christmas reminds me of love and saving, amazing Grace. :)
