I Believe In Santa's Cause

This will be my last blog about Christmas (for this season).

I grew up knowing Christmas was a celebration of the the birth of the Christ - born in a manger in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. God with us.

Our family always celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve night (Santa had to deliver to some families early). If Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday we would go to evening services and worship God and his baby, Jesus. Then we would go home and celebrate opening presents and sing about Santa Clause. I never got mixed up and did not grow up warped from the experience. (Well, if I did grow up warped it was not from this experience!)

This song kind of sums up how I feel about Santa. And this also a "tip of my hat" to Mom and Dad who have kept a great balance in our family's Christmas experience all these years. Tomorrow evening we will gather with them again along with one of my sisters and her family celebrating Santa's cause and reason for the season, the Christ child.

Song: I Believe In Santa's Cause
Artist: The Statler Brothers
Album: 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection

Never heard a snowman talking
Never seen a reindeer fly
Nor seen a wooden soldier walking
Nor met a Santa eye to eye

Now there are those who don't believe
in miracles or Santa Claus
But I believe what I believe
And I believe in Santa's cause

Never heard an angel singing
Never known a scrooge to smile
But I have heard sleigh bells ring
And light a spark in some small child

For kids and trees light up at Christmas
As well as preachers and our lawns
And light a Santa way at Christmas
I believe in Santa's cause

There's a Santa world at Christmas
Turning to the world's applause
So hang a bell for ole Saint Nick
'Cause I believe in Santa's cause

Now there are those who don't believe
In miracles or Santa Claus
But I believe what I believe
And I believe in Santa's cause

I Need A Silent Night

This is the week in the Christmas season that things tend to get crazy at my house. Last minute shopping, wrapping of presents, sorting the presents into groups so we know which ones go to which gathering of family. We stress wondering if we got the right thing, too much spent, too little spent. Did we leave someone out that we shouldn't have?

This song reminds me we are not the only ones that do this. And it also reminds me I need to be still and remember the reason for the season.

Peace to you and yours this season.

Song: I Need A Silent Night
Artist: Amy Grant
Album: The Christmas Collection

I've made the same mistake before
Too many malls, too many stores
December traffic, Christmas rush
It breaks me till I push and shove
Children are crying while mothers are trying
To photograph Santa and sleigh
The shopping and buying and standing forever in line
What can I say?

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

December comes then disappears
Faster and faster every year
Did my own mother keep this pace
Or was the world a different place?
Where people stayed home wishing for snow
Watching three channels on their TV
Look at us now rushing around
Trying to buy Christmas peace

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

What was it like back there in Bethlehem
With peace on earth, good will toward men?

(reading by child)
There were shepherds out in the field
Keeping watch over their clock by night
And the glory of the Lord shone around them
And they were sore afraid
And the angels said fear not for behold
I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people
For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace

I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night
To end this crazy day with a silent night

Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep

Only a week until Christmas!
I first remember hearing this song in the holiday film "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, singing it. But the message is worth listening to today more than ever. And this artist does a great job on it too. A really good message.
I hope you sleep well this season...and all year! This song gives good advice.

Song: Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep
Artist: Amy Grant
Album: The Christmas Collection

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep, you'll fall asleep
Counting your blessings

We're Here To Love

A few years ago Debbie and I were invited to a gathering where everyone was to bring their favorite album with their favorite song. We were to bring them in a brown sack so that no one knew who brought what song. We spent the evening listening to the songs and trying to guess whose favorite it was.

This one was Debbie's. She and I had just been married a few months but it gave me some insight into her heart.

These are supposed to be songs about me. In a way this one is. Debbie came into my life at a time when I was wondering if I would ever be able to love someone again. She has been a wonderful daughter, mother, wife and "granny". She has lived out this song in how she has cared for her family.

Song: We're Here To Love.
Artist: Ronnie Milsap
Album: Christmas With Ronnie Milsap

We all live on a little ball spinning somewhere in space
A tiny dot in the universe reserved for the human race
And as our planet obeys the laws of gravity, nature and time
We must look to the heart and find our part that we play in the grand design.

We're here to love, oh, we've all got the power, ah, it's our finest hour
Though the stars up in heaven keep shining down
From the ghetto to the Holy land somebody's needing somebody's hand
And it's time that we all understand we're here to love.

Some will lose their soul to the power of gold and all that it may possess
They count their blessings by the things that they own
Never learning that more is less
But from the moment we're born until the fading light
All the seasons that turn in between
It's the love that you give and the hours you give
That's the measure of the life that you lead.

We're here to love, oh, we've all got the power, ah, it's our finest hour
Though the stars up in heaven keep shining down
From the ghetto to the Holy land somebody's needing somebody's hand
And it's time that we all understand we're here to love...

Something You Can't buy

It is good to remember at ALL Christmases but we might need a real reminder this year in light of the current financial challenges the nation is facing. The best Christmas present to your family is to just be there.

My parents have always made our Christmas gatherings a special time that as I look back I realize money could not buy. This song is a great reminder of it. I cannot listen to it without a moistened eye.

Song: Something You Can't Buy
Artist: The Statler Brothers
Album: 20th Century Masters - Christmas Collection - The Statler Brothers

The greatest Christmas present
Is something you can't buy

When World War 2 was over
We trimmed the tree alone,
But we saved the star for Daddy
Cause Daddy was coming home
We bought Momma a new dress
We bought Daddy a tie,
But he brought us each something
That money couldn't buy

The greatest christmas present
Is something you can't buy
I've talked to Pa this evening
For an hour on the phone
He said don't spend a lot on presents
(now son don't you spend a lot on presents)
We just want you to come on home
(you know all me and Momma want is you all to come on home)
But we'll buy Momma a new dress
And Daddy another tie
And we'll spend lots of time together
And that's something you can't buy

The greatest Christmas present
Is something you can't buy

Some day - and I know it's coming
When all of us won't be together there for Christmas
(I hate to face it but we won't always be together for Christmas)
You know Daddy's seventy-three
(it seems hard to believe but daddy will turn seventy-three)
And to pay back all he gave me
I can't but I will try
I'll pass along to my kids
Something they can't buy

The greatest Christmas present
Is something you can't buy

To Make It A Good Christmas

What is your Christmas story? What do you remember most about past Christmases? Today's song reminds me it is NOT about presents.

The thing I remember most about Christmases past is that there was always laughter, caroling, playing, family and pictures. My maternal grandparents hosted the celebration while we grandkids were all young but by the mid 1960's the tradition moved to my parents' house until they moved from there about 4 years ago. When we were young, my mother's sister and family would join us for a couple days or so. Charles, Romadene, Denalyn, Pam, and Eric all came. I only got to see those cousins a couple of times or so a year but I love them dearly to this day.

A CHRISTMAS STORY
You know why this 1983 movie is a classic? It is all our stories! I can't really remember any specific gift except that I am reminded of it by a photograph from the day. I think I did get a BB gun one Christmas...mom told me to be careful not to shoot my eye out. Mine was a Daisy brand, however. And I actually have had my tongue get stuck on cold metal before, although it was galvanized fence rail. And my friend, Royce Stalter, has a leg lamp in his living room!

To make it a good Christmas make it about people. Christmas is not about presents. It is about getting together with family and friends, stories, food, and celebration. There will be more time to talk about the reason for the season in a later blog.

Song: It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Artist: Andy Williams
Album: The Andy Williams Christmas Album

It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"

It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call It's the hap- happiest season of all

There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time

It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time of the year