A lot of you probably remember this song from the first Home Alone movie, but it’s one of the prettiest songs about Christmas I’ve ever heard.  When I listen to it, my mind is flooded with all kinds of Christmas memories from years gone by; dozens of Christmases from my childhood and youth.  If you are fortunate enough to be spending this Christmas with your family, count your blessings and create some new memories.  Maybe, like me, you’re spending this season absent some family members.  It’s the nature of life; we grow up and we move away from home, leaving our families  and all those familiar faces and places behind.  Separated by the miles; whole countries in some cases, the special people we left behind are probably thinking about you, too.  We all have those warm, special memories of Christmases past.  Be sure you take the time to get in touch with the special people in your life and wish them a Merry Christmas.

Somewhere in my mem’ry,
Christmas joys all around me,
living in my mem’ry,
all of the music,
all of the magic,
all of the fam’ly home here with me.

Maybe you’re having a difficult time this holiday season, dealing with the trials of life, or even death.  If life has worn you down, please remember the words of Paul, the man with perfect perspective:

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, MSG)

Merry Christmas.