It's beginning to look alot like...

It’s Christmas morning.  I look out the window of my north central Indiana home and see rain.  Not snow, not sunshine…rain.  How gloomy and so NOT Christmassy.  And I think to myself, “Guess we can’t honestly sing, ‘It’s Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas’ today!”  Humbug. 

It doesn’t even feel like Christmas.  We opened our presents on the 21^st in anticipation of a trip to Michigan to see family for the holidays.  But two of the girls came down with fevers and Tony has had bronchitis.  Janae’s fever is still raging today although we thought it would be much improved by this time.  But for some reason, we are not to go on a journey up north.  Even if she makes remarkable strides in recovery over the next 24 hours, I would not want to subject her to a relapse. 

So, no gifts to open, no snow, no Christmas spirit.

But then I look around INSIDE my home.  A little tree on my kitchen windowsill twinkles it’s tiny lights to proclaim that it is indeed Christmas time.  The bar between the kitchen and dining room is full and overflowing with home baked goodies from various friends (thank you, Penny and Eleanor J) as well as candy from the church treats.  In the living room, new toys are scattered from couch to piano to a beautifully decorated 6 ft tree, leaving evidence that yes, Christmas has been celebrated here.

And then I think, though I may not look like Christmas on the outside (sitting here at the computer in my comfy pajamas) I can still keep Christmas on the inside as I reflect upon the day that Jesus made His debut on earth.  From Heaven’s splendor to a humble stable.  I don’t imagine that Mary, Joseph, the shepherds or anyone else thought that looked like Christmas either.  But it was.  No pomp and circumstance. No fan-faring trumpets to hail the King.  No majestic parade.  No silk or velvet robes.  Just a smelly stable filled with animals, hay for a bed and strips of cloth to cover him.  But Christmas nonetheless because Jesus was present. 

And that’s all one needs to celebrate Christmas.