IT WAS A NOISY NITE TO REMEMBER!

        ENJOY MY TAKE ON CHRISTMAS, 

                                               FROM A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW!

IT WAS A NOISY NITE TO REMEMBER

It was a Holy Night, but it was far from Silent.

There was the sheep and other animals making noise

(like the song "The Little Drummer Boy" ...

"the ox and lamb kept time" ;)

AND THEN these angels came with their announcement and choir=like fanfare.

***

 There was a nasty, wicked king who was trying to kill the Messiah ... he slaughtered all of these innocents.

Thank God Baby Jesus was protected.

*** 

 Joseph, who had to accept what was going on with his betrothed and beloved Mary,

was indeed abnormal. He went through amazing

suffering no-one has catalogued. Yet.

*** 

 There was SO MUCH hub-bub going on ...

so much surrounding this birth, even before

it happened. Mary pondered and cherished

all these things in her heart. Mary could probably

write VOLUMES herself, given the chance.

*** 

 There was some indication that there will be visitors ...

man, there were visitors!

All these shepherds and animals and even some children showed up for this amazing event. News of some foreign kings' arrival, but delayed because there were no trains,

no planes, no motorcars and no cellphones

or shuttles to speed them on.

They had to follow another amazing celestial event ... a double star:

The largest Sun/Star out there, coupled with Jupiter, The King Planet.

Their arrival was delayed by approximately 2 years.

*** 

 Days after Jesus' birth, the hub-bub continues.

A strange man and a strange woman prophesies

over the child, and the mother. Joseph's head is still spinning.

He can hardly wait to have intimacy

with his new wife.

 ***

 A footnote, if you will. All of this event,

most likely occurred in September,

when it was nice weather,

to be watching sheep at night. IF it was winter, those shepherds

wouldn't have been out there.

"A Child, A Child shivers in the cold" ... no, I don't think so.

*** 

 Years later, much later, some political/religous leader

decides to marry

the history of this event with the celebration of the Winter Solstice.

Huh ... sounds good to me, just combine two holidays

into one, and then incorporate some winter elements and

 >>> Santa Claus, Rudolph, The Abominable,

The Island of Misfit Toys, The Elf Dentist, Frosty the Snowman,

Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Irving Berlin,

Mr. Snow, Mr. Freeze, The Ice Wizard, Kris Kringle,

Charlie Brown and the Limp Christmas Tree,

"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" Ralphie 

(The Christmas Story), The Grinch (Boris Karloff

and Jim Carrey), Scrooged, A Christmas Carol and

Ebenezer Scrooge,

George Bailey, Will Farrell, Vince Vaughan, and Oh! Of Course,

Tim Allen!

*****

Personally, I have NO problem with most of these added elements,

and I think I've been graced to be able to distinguish between

fact and fiction. It doesn't offend me ... Somehow I find

it entertaining (oh gasp! The "E" word!).

And our family has decided to not get stressed out

with the usual holiday STRESS ... and not get bummed

out with purchases or lack thereof, or decorations

or lack thereof.

We gonna feast

We gonna enjoy each other

We gonna celebrate

We gonna Praise God for the Time.

For the Season.

For the Lord Jesus came once as a baby ...

HE grew up ... He faced the cross and died upon it,

He rose from the dead, ascended and was

GLORIFIED.

We don't spend enough time in that GLORY.

We spend more time in the cradle ...

... and He's not there. Anymore.

***  ***  ***

REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS ... CHRISTMAS ... ETC ...

HERE IS MY PRAYER FOR YOU:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MERRY CHRISTMAS,

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S

AND PEACE AND JOY AND LOVE AND

PROSPERITY BE YOURS!

"Merry Christmas to All, and to All

a Satisfied Life!"

And Grace and Peace also be yours

through our Lord Jesus Christ!!

MAKE IT SO!!!

TONY ;)