Merry Christmas! Well. almost! With the last few days before Christmas quickly closing in, are you ready for Christmas and all this holiday season brings?

It’s impossible to be 100% prepared for all that this season brings because it goes beyond the shopping, and the wrapping, the baking, and the making, and all the preparing for the holiday celebrations that will come this year. Of course, as those of us who are Born-again Believers, we know that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” as we’ve heard it said so many times.

But the question comes up, “Are we living like Jesus Christ really is the reason for the season?” Is what we’re filling our time with distracting us from “living Christ?”

Our utmost prayer for you-as it is for us—is that we won’t allow what’s most important to be overshadowed by that which really won’t matter 100 years from now. It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and the glitter and all the idealized sentimentality that’s presented to us through the media and that which invades our senses wherever we go. And there’s nothing wrong with so much of it. It’s just that sometimes we forget what’s really important —like celebrating the gift of Jesus Christ!

We have two “writings” or poems we’d like to make you aware of that might help in this endeavor of contemplating if we’re really ready for Christmas. The first is contained in an “early” Christmas present we received from our son John—which we’ll explain below:

Two of the best Christmas presents we’ve ever gotten (from human beings) we got this year one —from our son David and one from our son John. David, this year, married a wonderful gal whose name is Kristina. She’s such a love—we treasure her as a gift from God with all our hearts. We now have a daughter “because of love” —the love that David has for her and she has for him that brought her into our family. And for that we are eternally grateful!

The other gift is from our son John who has been working so diligently on putting up a web site for the ministry of Marriage Missions. What a joy it’s been to work with him on this. As he keeps adding more and more features we feel like we’re opening the most wonderful presents every day. For this gift, we are also eternally grateful!

We hope you’ll check out the web site. It’s designed entirely for those of us who desire to work PRO-actively on our marriages (not just RE-actively trying to put out fires after they occur and maintain damage control). It’s to help us so our marriages reflect the love of Christ to everyone we’re with (including each other).

As you check it out, keep in mind that this Web Site is still under construction. There are a lot more features and free information that’s being added. But even at this point it’s still very “user-friendly.” For now, to read the first “writing” we referred to earlier, check out the “Marriage Messages” section—and in particular a past marriage message entitled, “Are you Ready for Christmas?” - Marriage Message #26.

The 2nd writing we referred to, we’d like to include in this message. This poem was sent to us by some friends. As you read it, the original poem will be written in capital letters. We’ll be adding a few comments in lower case lettering surrounded by parenthesis. We pray it’s a blessing to you!

FIRST CORINTHIANS 13—CHRISTMAS VERSION

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shining balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crystal snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child (and the husband).

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband; (preferably, a “10 second kiss” —see Marriage Message #20 - Biblical rules for a Happy Marriage, rule #5.) (Also—to the husband: a great way to express love to your wife is to help with the decorating without grumbling.)

Love is kind, though harried and tired. (Remember—if you’re too busy to be kind, you’re too busy!)

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. (Keep in mind that Martha Stewart has a staff to help her with her preparations. That’s why she can look so cool and calm as she tells us of all she does to make Christmas so beautiful! There’s always a price to pay for everything. If your decorating takes away from the peace and joy you’re to enjoy with your loved ones. i.e. the expense and maintenance concerns, is it really worth the cost? A good question to ask would be: what would Christ have you do?)

Love doesn’t yell at the children to get out of the way, but is thankful they’re there to be in the way. (Is the price your family is paying for your holiday preparations too high a price? Will they be able to look back and say, “I loved Christmas at home with my parents—it was such a happy, peaceful, and loving place!”)

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, and golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure. (It truly is “the gift that keeps on giving!”)

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Our love and prayers are with you,

Steve and Cindy Wright