Dear Honey Run Friends,
What is Christmas to you? Is it a time to gather with family and friends and share gifts? Is it just another day of the week? Is it a sad day missing loved ones? Is it a day ignored because you do not believe what it stands for? Is it a day to celebrate the Savior’s birth? Christmas as we know it in 2023 is not what the holiday has always been. The history of Christmas is fascinating. Ancient cultures celebrated the winter solstice and many different gods during this time of the year. Some cities legally banned Christmas celebrations as they believed it was sacrilegious, and others embraced the holiday as the church tried to turn a pagan celebration into a remembrance of God. Here is a link to the history of Christmas if you want to learn more about how we arrived at the traditions we have today.
https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas
Christmas is whatever is in your heart. It can be a celebration of love and charity or a self-centered bah humbug holiday. I feel truly blessed to live in this period of time because Christmas in my lifetime has been a season of lights, love, laughter, and pure joy. The sounds, the sights, the spirit of this season bring me great joy and peace. I love listening to Christmas carols, walking through the season of advent with an expectant and humble heart, and eating all the wonderful food. I love seeing the stores full of joyful people buying gifts for their loved ones and seeing the twinkle of the Christmas lights all around the dark night sky. I love the decorations and festive clothing. I love sitting by the fire enjoying the warmth and watching the light flicker. I love seeing a fresh snowfall blanket the earth and paint the forest white. I love attending worship on Christmas Eve to celebrate our Savior’s birth. I love gathering with family and all the most important people in my life and sharing a meal and some laughter while remembering the real reason for the season for us. Yes, Christmas is magical in the U.S. in 2023 for me.
Christmas is all of this and more because it is at Christmas that I remember and I am reminded of the greatest gift I have ever received, my Savior Jesus Christ. In this remembrance I celebrate, and I am thankful for the arrival of God on earth in human form. He came so we can live. He came to take away the evil and hopelessness of this life and to show His love for all the world. O Holy Night! To quote the great Christmas carol:
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Chorus
Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night, O night divine.
These lyrics speak of what is resounding in my heart at Christmas. I pray you have a blessed Christmas and blessed new year. I pray you have the joy of Christmas in your heart and soul and that God makes His presence known to you. I pray for peace and joy for all the world this Christmas and all the days.
Merry Christmas!
Your peace filled Innkeeper,
Jason
Jason, thank you for sharing what gives you hope in this dark and hurting world. I too love the truth and lyrics of “O Holy Night” especially the line, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.”
The Savior brought worth to the human heart then as He still does now. I am grateful we share the same conviction about who He is and what He has done and continues to do in every heart that invites and prepares Him room.
Thank You!
What a wonderful message! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the beauty and joy of the Christmas season. My husband and I are looking forward to being at the Inn next weekend for a chance to rest and reflect during the holiday.
Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all our friends at the Inn at Honeyrun! I want to thank you all for the WONDERFULThanksgiving feast ! My family agreed it was the most delicious Thanksgiving dinner we’ve ever had! AND the first time in 53 years that I didn’t do the cooking! I suggested we make it a holiday tradition! lol
The service , food , and atmosphere was perfect !!!!THANK YOU!!!!
Dianne West