When I was growing up, the children’s Christmas service was held on Christmas Eve. We worked for weeks memorizing our parts (no words put up on the back wall or sheets to read from) and at the end of the service, each child was given a brown paper bag filled with nuts (in the shell)an orange and an apple. There may have been some hard candy, too. I don’t remember. Then we would go home and open our Christmas presents. On Christmas Day, we’d drive to my grandparents’ farm for Christmas Day and Grandma’s amazing cooking.
My husband’s family opened all their gifts on Christmas Day, so our tradition eventually evolved into opening stocking gifts on Christmas Eve and the rest of the presents on Christmas Day. One present I enjoy all year long isn’t found under the tree. It’s the gift of having met all of you and today I’d like to share some of my favorite Christmas quotes. Of course for our family, this (and what I’ll share to tomorrow) are the Reason for the Season.
“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans–and all that lives and move upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused–and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself.”
― Sigrid Undset
This year is perfect for following the advice in the next two quotes!
“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
― Bob Hope
“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.”
― Charles M. Schulz
“And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”
― Roy L. Smith
“Oh look, yet another Christmas TV special! How touching to have the meaning of Christmas brought to us by cola, fast food, and beer…. Who’d have ever guessed that product consumption, popular entertainment, and spirituality would mix so harmoniously? ”
― Bill Watterson, The Essential Calvin and Hobbes
“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
― Calvin Coolidge
“The reality of loving God is loving him like he’s a Superhero who actually saved you from stuff rather than a Santa Claus who merely gave you some stuff.”
― Criss Jami, Killosophy
“Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.”
― Eric Severeid
And maybe for this year…
“No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.”
― Greg Kincaid
This, that and the other thing 