Holiday Cheer 2011

With another Holiday Season tucked under our belts we’re ready to get back to our regular scheduled programming. At least I am. But before we get back to the swing of things, it’s time for my annual Holiday Cheer blog in which I reflect on the holiday season.

I’ve already mentioned my exciting for Christmas shopping this year. On Christmas Eve we went to Katie’s grandparent’s house and partied like rock stars. Well, not really but we still had a good time of just hanging out. Grandpa Murphy is well into his 90’s and it wouldn’t be crude of me to think he could count the number of Christmas’ he has left on his hand(s). Despite this he is extremely coherent and often joyful no matter the occasion. It’s inspiring in so many ways. He’s close to glory and appreciates the things he should be appreciating and spends time doing what he needs to be doing.

Pop (aka The Chief) asked me to give the family devotional so I spent a couple of days reflecting on The Virgin Birth of Christ and gave my thoughts on it. The family seemed to appreciate it. I tried to keep it condensed and not give an entire Old Testament Survey class in one sitting like Alan did one year or go gangbusters and give a twenty-seven-point sermon like PJ did another year. I wanted to be concise and memorable (at least that’s what I’ll tell you but the real reason is I’m just too lazy to dig up more content).

The interesting part this year was that Christmas landed on a Sunday. Listening to Mom & Pop try and workout the Christmas Day schedule was hilarious in it of itself.

Mom: What time do you want to have breakfast?
Pop: How about 7am?
Jon: (giving a look that says, “I’m not waking up that early!”)
Mom: Did you want to do stockings before church or after?
Pop: Before.
Me: Breakfast AND stockings BEFORE church? That sounds ambitious and optimistic.
Mom: You’re right. (Turning to Pop): Are you sure you want to do all that before church?
Pop: (doesn’t say anything but gives the look, “I know what I’m doing. I’m the Chief.”
Mom: (picking up on the look) Okay then. We’ll do breakfast and stockings before church. After church we’ll do gifts.
Me: I don’t care I just want to watch basketball.
Mom: I don’t care that you don’t care.
Jon: So when’s breakfast again?
Mom: 7am
Jon: (same “I’m not waking up that early” look on his face)

To my amazement, we actually pulled it off. We were able to eat breakfast, pass out stockings, and I was able to catch some of the Knicks/Celtics game all before church.

Once we got to church Pop, Jon, and I were able to help out Uncle Tim and Aunt Sarah by setting up the overflow room before service. I thought to myself, “Hey, a family serving at church together! Wow, white people DO have it good!” The church decided to keep the doors close and only open them right before service. So we were all in the hallway looking like a bunch of Black Friday shoppers waiting to buy cheap TV(s).

It was a great time of singing holiday Christ-centered songs with the church family. The sermon was an expansion of the devotional I gave the night before. I thought the pastor stole my notes. Whatever. All glory to God in the Highest!

After church we got home and started opening up gifts, sticking right with the schedule Pop came up with the night before. To change things up a bit, Mom wanted the oldest person opening up gifts first this year instead of the usual youngest starting things out. I didn’t care; I knew all my basketball games were humming on the DVR just waiting for me.

Grandpa Davis started the festivities by opening up his gifts first. We went in order according to age while everyone sitting around eagerly waited for the surprises before them. It was fun just to watch others open gifts. It was a blessing to be able to take joy in someone else’s joy and to do it especially in a family context. It took a while to clean up the wrapping paper and put the gifts away. Even though we do this every year it’s memorable each and every year in it’s own unique way. I was so filled with joy and just taking in the moment I even handled the Lakers throwing away the game pretty well (relatively speaking). That’s three straight Christmas Day loses you jack@$$es!!!

We continued throughout the day eating, playing games, and partying like a bunch of dwarves on Middle Earth. Good times all around. This is a far cry from the holidays I grew up with. But God turns “ashes into beauty” and takes the traditions of men to use for His glory.

Happy New Year.