Our Christmas tree claims over 1200 lights along with various ornaments made by the kids or bought from vacation spots. I’m wondering why we light up our corners of the world with bright colorful lights around this time of year, getting ready for Christmas in “the bleak mid-winter.” That’s part of the answer. We do not like the dark and gloomy winter so we add lights to ward off our feelings of gloom and shadowy dimness of mind.
Weeks before Christmas, as soon after Thanksgiving as allowed, we get out the boxes of decorations and start changing our settings. At our house we take away the usual decor on table tops and replace them with delightful, stored-away Christmas-themed decorations. Our daughter and her husband have found a good way to make the exchange. We place the usual items in the empty boxes until after Epiphany and exchange them when we store away the Christmas decorations.
Becky and Paul start with putting lights on the Christmas tree. This year they started with all white lights and I thought they had finished. No. Then they hung strings of colored lights. Next Becky got into the carefully stored ornaments and finished decorating the tree while Paul went outside to spruce up the setting for those who drive by. He strung red and white lights around the two columns like peppermint sticks. Then he added various colored lights on bushes, hung a star in a tall tree, and brought out his favorite, a small Christmas tree he had bought for very little a couple of years ago. His lights on the tree and bushes and columns are all on a timed switch to turn on and off. Oh yes, last year we bought a stand-up plastic board Nativity scene and Paul places a spotlight on that.
Everything is well lit―the outdoors, the Christmas trees, outside and inside, the mangers and village on the sofa table against the wall, along with lit décor in other places. Lights! And have we exhausted the reasons? No. For behind all these lighted decorations, we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. Consider the Son of God as the Light of the world who came to bring life to all. He is the eternal Light who shines in our dark world.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12, ESV). Light up your rooms and your heart and bring that Light into the world. Merry Christmas.
Ann Coker 
Yes, Jesus Christ our light!
Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas season.
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Same Christmas greetings to you and yours.
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Hi Ann! What a delight to read about putting up the lights of CHRISTmas this year! HE certainly is the reason for the season! Thanks for helping to light up the world for HIM! MERRY CHRISTmas to you and Bill, and your loving family. PSALM 136:26b
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You are so sweet to read and comment. Miss seeing you. Perhaps you will make it to the Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services. Love ya
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Miss you too Dear heart! Have left hip revision in Mooresville c 8th as 7 year old hip “came loose”. So won’t be making it to church for awhile. Enjoy your CHRISTmas with all the love that surrounds you and Bill. GOD BLESS! m
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Marti, sorry that you have to go through surgery on your hip again. I’ll be praying for you, and I’ll tell Becky so she can pray also. Love you much.
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Amen and Amen!
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Becky said there are 1500 lights. I like the photo and how we turn on the lights during the day as well as at night.
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Beautiful tree and beautiful friend.
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I tried to comment, but wordpress would not accept my password. But I wanted to let you know I enjoyed the article, and I had learned more about worship recently. We celebrate events, and the best events of all are the birth of Christ and His resurrection! Linda Sammaritan
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 https://www.lindasammaritan.com
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Linda, Thanks. Good thoughts. Births in the Bible begin with Genesis and we have recorded births that turn history for the better. I don’t know why WordPress would not let you post a comment.
I received your book, Reaching Into Silence, and intend to read it in 2023. Format looks good. Love that you now have your book published and about a valuable subject. ~Ann
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I love it,too, that this book is published (with books 2 and 3 to come soon!). Enjoy!
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Love how you wove our passion for lights with Scripture honoring Jesus!
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Thanks, Joyce. I miss getting to the Group meetings. Hope 2023 will work better for me.
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