26 days to Christmas.  Sunday, Nov 29, 2020

Ahhhh.  The Holiday Season has finally arrived!   The season traditionally begins with Advent, which represents the time of preparation for the arrival of Christmas.  Of course, we all know that Christmas really begins on Black Friday which occurs two days earlier, but it doesn’t really matter, especially this year.  COVID-19 has created a mass confusion that would rival the rush on Cabbage Patch dolls in 1983.  Remember that?  People rushed in masses to stores, stepping over each other, engaging in small-scale military conflict just to get their hands on one.  Was that you?  Haha!

We must laugh at those memories because this year is so different than any year before.  However, different doesn’t need to be a bad thing.  In fact, if we approach this Holiday Season with a healthy perspective, we might discover some hidden treasures that we didn’t know existed.  This year, Advent can become a springboard into something wonderful, but we’ll need to take care of a few things to make that happen.  Yes, we need to prepare.

How do we begin?  Let’s start with this:  Commit to making this Season a blessing for you and those around you and ask God to help.  Only God can truly change people’s hearts and minds, and if we want this Christmas to be special, we must start there.  Make a commitment to God, praying that it’s going to be different for you this year.  Yes, you can do this.  It’s not difficult and it’ll take just a couple of minutes.  You don’t even need to tell anyone!  Although that’s helpful (because it keeps us accountable), this really can be just between you and God.  COVID has made it’s changes; now we can make our own.

Are you ready?  Is your tree up and decorated?  Are your stockings hung by the chimney with care?  All of it helps but none of it helps as much as a new commitment to The LORD.  Don’t let this opportunity escape!  This is yours.  This is God’s.  This will be a blessing to everyone around you.

“A voice cries out:  ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’ “  (Isaiah 40:3, NRSV)