We love Christmas at our house. We always have. Our children learned to love it too. They are both married with children of their own and it is a big deal in both of their homes. We decorate like crazy: outside lights all over the trees and house, big tree inside, decorations everywhere. We can’t wait for cold weather, crackling fires, and driving the neighborhoods to look at lights. We cherish the memories of Christmas past, remembering the times when the kids were young.

But what really makes Christmas special are other things ... especially the spirit of giving and sharing at Christmas. We love the time we get to spend with friends and family. It is exciting to see the new additions every year ... babies, in-laws and new friends. Much of our Christmas time centers on eating together. We feast, we laugh, we tell stories, and we love being together. People think about Jesus at Christmas and I like that. I wish I could have Christmas all year round.

Which is why being part of a church family is perfect for me. Christianity is based on giving and sharing. God gave his Son to make us part of his family, and we share that good news with as many people as we can. We think about Jesus all the time. We gather around a meal every week, tell stories and celebrate together. We get to see new members join our church family. We love being together.

I do have Christmas all year round. So can you. If you want to talk more about this, write me at steve@hopeforlife.org or visit our blog at www.hopeforlife.org.


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