I love this time of year. Not because of the presents and all the hoopla that surrounds Christmas and New Years, etc. but because of the magic. There is a mystical feeling that sits in the air the entire month of December that I just can't help but get sucked into.
When I was a little kid, probably until the age of about 7 or 8, I would get so excited on Christmas morning that I would sneak down stairs before it was even light out to peek at the tree and see if Santa had come. Once or twice I actually caught my parents still wrapping - God bless you Mom & Dad that you'd stay up until 3 in the morning wrapping and getting things done if you had to so that we didn't lose a single moment of magic Christmas morning. I still remember that feeling, I have the memory tucked away where I sneak down and look into the living room and the entire room is sparkling. All I saw was the magic in the air, clearly left behind from Santa himself. After taking a sneak peak at any "big gifts" left unwrapped I'd sneak back up to bed to try to wait until it was time to get up. Laying in my bed though, I'd get so worked up with excitement, that I literally would get sick. Year after year, I spent the early morning of Christmas puking with anticipation. My poor mother...
There was the one year that after I got sick, both my brother and sister did too... Pretty sure that one wasn't my fault. Anyhow, there was nothing special that my parents did to the room to make it sparkle. We had a regular tree with regular lights and yes, my parents did spoil us on Christmas - They still do, but that was it. In my memory though, the entire room was twinkling, like the inside of a snow globe filled with gold glitter. It is so vivid in my mind still today.
I hate that as we grow older we have to lose that sense of wonder. Of course teenagers are miserable, it's like they just found out that all the best parts of their world aren't actually real! It's not until you have children of your own that you get to relive the magical element of the holidays again. My daughter just turned two and I for one am so excited to see how she reacts to Christmas this year. She's still a little young to grasp it all, but there is a blossom forming within her heart already.
As an adult though, the magic I see around the holidays is watching the way people care for others. I saw a post recently on facebook that warmed my heart. I wish I could find it to share, I will keep looking. Anyhow, a woman on her way home from work crossed paths with a homeless man who had offered to do some odd jobs in exchange for cash. She didn't own a home with a yard to be worked on or have a car that could be cleaned, but just the same she asked the man what it was that he needed. He kindly informed her that he had a North Face coat on hold at a consignment store down the street that he wanted to purchase, but that they would only hold it until the end of the day.
When she posted her story to share with others, it was not to brag about how awesome she was for going with the man to buy him a jacket on a freezing cold day, but to share with the world that there are people out there who will literally do almost anything for a warm coat. Here we are complaining about being cold as we are bundled up out and about during the day, but there are so many people who don't have a warm place to come home to at the end of the day.
I was reminded of this story over the weekend as I watched one of my favorite holiday movies White Christmas, and I got all twisted up listening to Bing Crosby sing "Count your Blessings." If listening to this doesn't fill your heart with contentment, I'm not sure what will! "When I worry and I can't sleep, I count my blessing in stead of sheep. And I fall asleep, counting my blessings."
Tonight, and all this holiday season as we all stress over how to keep up with the bills and fight through snow storms... Take the time to stop look for the magic in the air. Look for one minute through the eyes of a child and don't forget to count your blessings every night before you fall asleep.
One week until Christmas Eve.... Enjoy every minute of it!
This is as close as I could find for how I remember my childhood Christmas to look!
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