We wish you a Merry Christmas!
Christmas will be here in a few short days, that festive, family oriented holiday that arrives each year just before the end of December.
Soon the little ones will slumber with visions of sugarplums in their heads, anxiously awaiting a visit from Santa and his reindeer and the brightly colored gifts he will leave under the sparkling Christmas tree after sliding so easily down and up the chimney with his big, red sack full of goodies.
For those of you who might want to pause in your merriment for a moment or two and follow Santa’s progress across Lassen County on Christmas Eve, go to our website, lassennews.com, and click on the link that takes you to Norad Tracks Santa. You’ll also find games to play, Santa’s favorite music to listen to, stories to read about Santa and other holiday traditions.
As we gather with our loved ones and friends this Christmas morning, the weatherman seems reluctant to grant us that white Christmas the crooners always sing about. Oh, well. Maybe next year.
On Christmas morning, the children will open their gifts, and the old folks will be surrounded by the sound of new gadgets and toys, plenty of whirls and bangs, the bouncing of new balls and the joyful sound of children at play.
Some of us may think of Christmas simply as a time to exchange gifts and enjoy a special meal, but that would be a mistake. Sure, it’s great to have the bright wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, the lights and the tinsel, all the packages and the cards or even the food served on our festive tables.
But it’s the love and care we share with each other that make the day — for love is the true bounty of Christmas. And it’s God’s love for us we should remember most of all.
Amid all the toys and happy children and the feast served at the dinner table, we should remember the real reason for the holiday in the midst of our secular festivities. For on Christmas each year we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, the savior of the world who came to redeem our sins. It’s a time of peace on earth and good will to men.
The shepherds tending their flocks near Bethlehem received the good news from an angel that a savior had been born and the magi offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh as a bright light in the heavens showed them the way.
We wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas on this wonderful day.
We hope you and yours will discover again all the love of the day and the goodness and happiness it can bring.
May God reach out and bless each and every one of us at this festive time of year as we celebrate the birth of His son.