37 Days!

37 shopping days until Christmas!  That’s what I learned today when I logged onto the website of a local mall. And just so we don’t forget that Christmas is right around the corner, stores started putting up their aisles of Christmas decorations about the middle of October. Beth has gone in search of fall decorations recently only to find that they are relegated to a clearance table so that they can fill up the space with Christmas decorations, candy, gifts, etc.

Beth also confessed to me last week that she had started listening to Christmas music on Pandora already. But I know that she doesn’t love Christmas for the shopping or the gifts (or the cookies) but she loves the spirit of Christmas, the reason we celebrate, the special family gatherings and the special Christmas services and events. (And the tree…she does love her Christmas tree.)

So actually, from that perspective maybe it’s ok if we start focusing on Christmas now…before we get to Thanksgiving week. Because what we should be most thankful for is the Gift that was given that holy night so long ago. And if we are already focusing on the greatest Gift, maybe when we start naming the things we are thankful for we will remember that they all come from His hand. Were it not for God’s grace, we would not be able to give thanks.

So go ahead, start counting the days.  37 days until we celebrate that most holy night, that most mysterious Gift, that perfectly amazing grace.