“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

I remember driving up that little holler in Appalachia, KY called Crooked Creek, oftentimes with snow glistening or heavy frost saying ‘yes’ it’s Christmastime.

In Crooked Creek the houses were mostly heated by coal and the smoke would lay horizontally in the air as it escaped the pipes from which the pot belly stoves heated the home. This little area deemed insignificant by most was my whole World of joy, love and connection as a boy, during the most significant time of the year. When hope given was celebrated. Crooked Creek was my Bethlehem. A quiet place of little significance until the invasion of my family, where it became the epicenter of my universe.

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” Micah 5:2 ESV

As we would drive up the 5 or so miles, my mind would race thinking of the gifts that would be given and gotten. The endless biscuits that grandma would make from scratch. My saying yet again, “no thanks, I don’t care for grandma’s sawmill gravy,” to the absolute shock of all around. The games of Jacks that would reveal exceptional skills and lack thereof. The laughter at my mom and aunt struggling yet committed to reciting the Night Before Christmas. My father or uncle reading the Christmas story because my papaw could not read or write and loved to hear the story of God’s immeasurable love given through His son, the baby named Jesus. A time absent TV, phones, video games, social media. A time of socialization among three generations of family with the common bond whose name is Jesus.

In the early years our family of 11 gathered and each bought a gift for each other. The gifts were inconsequential by the day’s standards but the love and anticipation of the giver and the recipient held beauty, care, love, laughter and represented time. The gift of time spent. Time taken. Time surrendered. Time. The statement that you, the recipient of my gift, are worthy of my time and effort. Much like the Father in Heaven tells us each day as he awaits our prayers and petitions. He awaits and desires our discussions with him through time surrendered and time valued.

I cannot recall the gifts unwrapped, but I know the reason for the gifts. I struggle to remember the conversations, but I remember the laughter. I’m not sure of the number of days we were together but count as priceless the days we were together. I was never privy to the financial challenges that our families getting together caused but recall with complete clarity the joy that invaded that little green house that became home and hope each Christmas.

I am so grateful for the idyllic Christmas experiences that I was gifted as a child. Very little money. Never magnificent trips. Home cooked meals, void of exotic dishes. The gift of laughter, love, time and Jesus that were ever present in those precious moments.

Today I pray that this Christmas will bring you hope, joy, laughter, purpose and promise. The promise that is Jesus. The assurance of God’s redeeming love given in the form of a baby, whose birth, death and resurrection reconciled us to God and God to us.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14 KJV

And 700 years later

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23 KJV

This year commit to creating Christmas traditions that place Christ at the epicenter, surrounded by love, laughter, joy, uninterrupted time and your presence in these precious moments of eternal promise.

You’ve got this. Merry Christmas