Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

“The sky can still remember the earliest Christmas morn, when in the cold December the Savior Christ was born. No star unfolds its glory; no trumpet wind is blown, but tells the Christmas story in music of its own.

“O never-failing splendor! O never-silent song! Still keep the green earth tender and still keep the gray earth strong, still keep the brave earth dreaming of deeds that shall be done, while children’s lives come streaming like sunbeams from the sun.

“O angels sweet and splendid throng in our hearts and sing the wonders which attended the coming of the King; till we too, boldly pressing where once the shepherds trod, climb Bethlehem’s hill to find the Son of God.”

That little piece appeared in a paper printed in 1970 — author unknown — but it’s dear enough to share today with Christmas coming up next week.

Christmas brings us treasured memories of You, Lord. We think how You have touched our lives and the lives of our family and friends. Our lives seem to have become too complicated for the sake of friendships, even with You, Lord. We’ve become too involved in mundane things but this is the season to rekindle those flagging friendships. Lord, please guide us to where You can use us.

The pure simplicity in the form of a Babe in the manger makes this a holiday of rejoicing as we re-establish the simplicity of Christmas in our homes this year.

How special to read Luke 2:12-14 (NIV), “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

Love, Mara