Everyone has their own idea about when it is the right time to start Christmas. I don't mean shopping early (I am an all year long Christmas shopper, and make every effort to avoid going into stores after the middle of November!) or seeing decorations hung on city streets as early as Halloween. I understand that many resist being encouraged to begin thinking Christmas thoughts before Thanksgiving. But I believe Christmas is more than decorations or gift exchanges, and seasonal foods. We need Christmas, the deep peace of knowing that God is with us, all the time, and it does not seem strange to me that this bubbles up at times with a desire for little things that show that need. For years, I have treated myself to beginning listening to my beloved Christmas music on my birthday, which is coming up soon. So I was really not surprised a couple of months ago when our 2 year old granddaughter Nora, began asking for a Mismas Tree. Perhaps she had seen the decorations when they went into the garage closet when we moved this summer. Perhaps she saw a picture of a tree. But suddenly she was insistent. She begged for a Mismas Tree with a star. Her mom obligingly got this little tree out of the closet, we plugged in the lights, and then Nora wanted a star. I cut one from cardboard for her and offered to cover it with foil. She passed on the foil and I lifted her as high as I could for her to put her star where she wanted it.
So there is the start of our Christmas, before September's song or Halloween. Note the pumpkins nearby! We will do the rest of our decorating soon, since baby Oliver is due to make his appearance around Thanksgiving! "
For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.”
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
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