Christmas

"Christmas happens but once a year - But lives in my heart forever".
-Charles Dickens
(Quote left anonomously on my Office whiteboard at work on Christams Eve)

Well Christmas is over for another year.

I hope that you who stumble across my Blog (that includes both regular visitors and those ‘googling’ the word ‘Lionfish’!) had a great weekend feasting and celebrating with friends in which ever form that takes.

I personally love celebrating Christmas. Our Christmas began a few weeks ago with my industrious wife decorating our ‘real’ tree with fairy lights wooden ornaments that we received as a wedding gift from a friend who spent some time in Canada. My wife also hand makes all of the Christmas cards and tends to the Christmas shopping. Christmas carols at Scarborough Beach.

On Christmas Eve we met some friends in the afternoon and then went to Church. Christmas morning we open gifts as a family. (Being a heavy tea drinker, I was given a new teapot from my wife). My 7 yo son scored well with an air hockey game amongst other things.

Christmas lunch was cooked on a Barbecue by my wife’s cousin who is a Chef at a major hotel in Perth. It was a magnificent feast. Christmas afternoon was spent playing tag at the beach.

On Boxing Day we went to my brother’s family house to watch the cricket – but sadly we ended up following the tragic events in SE Asia on BBC News.

Many would be rushing off to the after Christmas sales right now, “cashing in” their ‘vouchers’. That unfortunately ugly side of Christmas. This insightful picture via Hamo’s Blog expresses it all. (Reminds me of Jesus in the temple overturning the tables of the money changers).

Christmas to me is a celebration of the gift of the Saviour from our Father (John 3:26). And no commercial distraction could take that away from the wonder that the real meaning of Christmas brings.