Altar Call – Opelika-Auburn News
Walter Albritton
December 13, 2015
It
really is the most wonderful time of the year
I
can’t help it. I just love Christmas. The very word “Christmas” makes my heart
sing. Since I was a boy writing letters to Santa Claus I have loved Christmas.
For me it really is the most wonderful time of the year. But what makes it so special?
It
may be the thrill of anticipation -- expecting something wonderful to happen. Anticipation is the gusto of Christmas.
Thanksgiving is the threshold of the joyous expectancy of Christmas. Good
things happen at Christmas. As December 25 nears, most of us are like children
-- eager for the day to come! Life without the thrill of anticipation would be absolute
misery.
The
music of Christmas makes it unique. We never sing "Silent Night" or
"Joy to the World" in May; but we would not want to live through
December without the warm glow that comes from singing these songs. And no
December is complete without listening again to the majestic sound of Handel’s Messiah. Few things can set your heart
on fire like The Hallelujah Chorus.
The
secular Christmas songs are also delightful. Only Ebenezer Scrooge and his kin
do not enjoy singing "Jingle Bells" or "Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer" or "Frosty the Snowman." A favorite of mine is “I saw
Mama kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe last night.” The most
delightful of all may be “Winter Wonderland.” That song can make you want to go
on a sleigh ride with your sweetie.
Colorful
decorations make Christmas beautiful – and sometimes bizarre! We decorate our
homes, stores, streets and public places. We hang lights and wreaths everywhere
because bright colors help us forget for a little while the harshness of life.
Beautiful red and green ribbons, and bright clothes, can cheer us up.
Then
Christmas food is extraordinary! Our
kitchens come alive with the sweet aroma of foods that make us merry – and
overweight! Mama bakes delicious cakes
and pies and she may even toast some pecans! There is also the thrill of
sitting down at a large table to break bread with family members we have seen
for a while.
Snow
can make Christmas special. I prefer the kind that comes out of a can, or the
snow we see on television while watching children laughing and playing in the
snow in upper New York State. When it snows in Alabama we chuckle to see how
one inch of snow will paralyze the traffic! We will love it if it snows this
year so we can take pictures of the children throwing snowballs and building
snowmen.
Trees
loaded with tinsel, lights and angels make Christmas delightful. Christmas morning would not be the same
without a tree, with gift surprises underneath it, and little children eager to
find out what Santa brought them. We have had a good laugh this year because
our artificial tree is broken but so far duct tape is holding it in place!
Christmas
is special for Christians, of course, because it is gives us a chance to
journey back to Bethlehem and celebrate once again the birth of the Savior
named Jesus. Amidst all the wrapping paper, the tinsel, the music, the smell of
food, and the tension of this busy season, we remember that it is more
important for Jesus to come into our hearts than it is for Santa to come down
the chimney.
Be
careful these days of the Stress Monster. He is lurking in the shadows hoping
he can make your Christmas miserable. Run him off. Slam the door in his face.
Take charge of your life and refuse to let that rascal spoil what can surely be
the most wonderful time of the year. + + +