I Hear Those Sleigh Bells Jingling

Yes, I know that it's only October, but it's almost November. I'm just really getting into the Thanksgiving and Christmas spirit lately. I'm not sure what it is. . . Maybe it's the fact that we read about the birth of Christ during our family Bible time the other night. Maybe it's because I've been preparing for my daughter's 3rd birthday, which is just 5 days before Christmas. Maybe it's the amazing cooler weather that has kissed Southeast Texas the past couple of weeks. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that our local Christian radio station sent out their Christmas music survey this week. Whatever it is, I'm loving it.

I love the fall. When our first hint of cooler weather visited a couple of weeks ago, I opened all the windows and let it course through the house. I walked around all day saying, "I love fall!!" I think my husband was ready to kill me by day's end.

There's something about being cuddled up under the covers at night with the cool air blowing through the window that just makes me happy. I wake up in anticipation of the day ready to grab a cup of hot tea, hot cocoa or coffee. We are not privy to the wonder of all the leaves changing colors like some areas of the country. Our fall is probably somewhat less spectacular than some experience. Nevertheless, I love it. Don't ask me to explain it to you. It's just the beginning of my favorite part of the year.

I suppose if I had to analyze it, I would say that during the fall I become infused with a sense of anticipation and expectation. It reminds me of a purer time of life when faith was less struggle and more natural. Surely you remember that too - when you were a child and no matter how much you knew that your parents probably couldn't afford whatever amazing thing you wanted, you still had this glimmer of hope that you would awake to something magnificent on Christmas morning.

This season reminds me that I have the privilege of experiencing that expectation every morning. I can awake to each new day in eager anticipation of what Papa will speak to me, show me, or gift to me. If I so choose, I can approach life with a sense of wonder and hope. The key being those four little words - If I So Choose.

I could be bogged down in the fact that we are on a waiting list with 700 other people to get an estimate on the repairs our house needs while I can hear the roofers down the street repairing our neighbors' homes. I could wallow in the state of our insurance settlement because our adjuster only allotted $1,500 to repair our roof, when it will probably cost closer to $7,000. Now we have to go to battle, which we cannot do until we get an estimate for the repairs. But, you know, it just isn't worth it to worry.

Don't get me wrong; I slip into that pool of despair occasionally. However, I try not to live there. If I did, I would drown in self-pity, self-loathing and general self-disgust.

Instead, I will enjoy the crisp fall day that reminds me so keenly that this is the time of year when I celebrate the birth that changed my life - the birth of my Savior. I rejoice in the promise of a brighter day. I revel in the joy of knowing that Papa cares for me, His daughter. His love is fiercer than my love for my own child, so I am safe and can rest soundly.

Paul exhorts the Philippians with these words in Philippians 4:4-7, and I echo them to myself and to you, my reader:

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Blessings!

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