--Come Thou Long Expected Jesus ~~

--The True Light That Gives Light:

--Christmas Eve. We made it once again. Now, suddenly, I want time to stop. I want to fly back and feel the expectation of lighting the first Advent Candle, and sit snuggled in the living room as David reads about the Magi. I want to lean my face into the scratchy cedar tree and then realize that the blessing of my mother's long life.

Christmas Eve. It's come too soon.
Oh well, there's nothing to do now but pull my Santa hat from the top closet shelf and get ready to laugh. Our tradition is to open our gifts to each other on Christmas Eve. Santa comes later.

Brock and Keri and their giggling tribes will arrive shortly, unloading presents until there's a sea of bright boxes piles all around the tree. There will be much hurrying as we eat bowls of hot vegetable soup and devour homemade pimento cheese sandwiches.

And then the Santa hat It was a splurge some years back, this red velvet hat with a foot-high bouncy, twirly, thing complete with a bell on top.

When I don the hat, everyone knows it's time. I drag in my big red Santa bag, and peek inside. The room grows quiet.

"Now, what have we here," I say"

I pull out a gift for each person. I've been working toward this moment for months Saving up, searching the Internet, poring through catalogues, and walking the malls until I find the most perfect gift possible for each of the people I treasure.

Some, I know, call this conspicuous consumption I call it love.

"Father, thank You for creating me to laugh, for the delight I can take in giving gifts, for the joy and anticipation of Your ultimate gift. The gift of eternal life, in Jesus. ~
--Guideposts/

--<https://youtu.be/_JqnsAkuDdM>
~~~~~