Christmas traditions. I love them.
The days leading up to Christmas, we listen to Christmas music all day, erryday. My personal favorite? Frank Sinatra's
Christmas record. Round and round it spins on the record player.
Every Christmas eve, my family and I gather around in the family room and huddle as we drink hot cocoa. We listen to the fire crackling as we watch "It's A Wonderful Life." One by one, we fall asleep to the film and by the end, we wake up to in time to sing
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Auld Lang Syne" with the citizens of Bedford Falls.
Right before everyone drudges into their beds, we read the Christmas story, the birth of the Savior of the world, the birth of my Redeemer. Christmas is a time to celebrate the anniversary of that blessed birth.
It really is a wonderful life.
Oh, then we stay up the rest of the night watching "A Christmas Story;" Deck the halls with boughs of horry, fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra.
Luke 1:26-33
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth.
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her what manner of alutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.