In Others’ Words: Keeping Christmas all the Year
I collect Nativity scenes. I don’t have an extensive collection, but I do have a much-loved assortment that includes a hand-sewn cloth Nativity that little hands may play with. I also have a treasured olive wood set from my mission trip to Israel in 2000, when my husband and I chaperoned a high school trip that our son went on. My husband and I brought back matching Nativity sets for each of our children, including our then-to-be-born “caboose kiddo,” Christa, who arrived later that year on Christmas Eve.
And then there’s the one tiny Nativity scene I keep out all year-round, perched atop my armoire, right next to my daughter Amy’s origami bridal bouquet. I started the tradition several years ago when a pastor challenged his Christmas Eve congregation — me included — to not pack Christmas away with the ornaments and the Advent wreaths and the snowmen collections. Yes, I have one of those, too.
And so, I display this one reminder of Christmas — or, as my husband reminds the family every year: Christ-mas: the celebration of the Messiah — all year long. It’s a purposeful way to honor Christmas in my heart. A reminder to keep Christmas all the year. I look up as I’m putting clothes away, and I remember that God is Immanuel … God with Us. God with me. Every day. All day long. All year long.
In Your Words: How do you honor Christmas in your heart? What helps you keep it all the year?
In Others’ Words: Keeping #Christmas all the Year #InOthersWords #lifequotes
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“I will honor #Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” #CharlesDickens
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CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!
I’m part of a wonderful group called The Grove, with several author-friends … well, we’re more like sisters, really. We’re having a GROVE GIRL CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY. Go go to this Rafflecopter form to join in the fun for a chance to win these prizes:
A signed copy of From the Start by Melissa Tagg + a $10 Amazon gift card to find something special just for you.
Signed copies of The Butterfly and the Violin and A Sparrow in Terezin, both by Kristy Cambron with a beautiful bookmark to hold your place in these great books.
Signed copy of Where Treetops Glisten by Cara Putman and candy cane ornaments because the heroine makes those in the novel
Signed copy of Paper Hearts and a hot off the press ARC of Change of Heart, both by Courtney Walsh
Signed copies of Amish Christmas at North Star and The Art of Losing Yourself, both by Katie Ganshert
A signed copy of The Bronte Plot, by Katherine Reay
A signed copy of The Curiosity Keeper, by Sarah Ladd
A signed copy of Crazy Little Thing Called Love plus an e-novella Can’t Buy Me Love, both by Beth Vogt
Love #Christmas? So do the @theGROVE_story girls. Join their MASSIVE #giveaway. #amreading……
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