"I had a dream, Joseph. I don't understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about 6 weeks . They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar though, because the presents wern't for our Son. They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree Joseph, right in their house! They'd decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful. Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our Son. I don't think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn't it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate somebody's birthday if they don't even know Him? I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration He would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone was so gay, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus--not to be wanted at His own birthday party. I'm glad it was only a dream.
How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real."
I found this little story in our family book of Christmas stories when we pulled out the decorations the other day. I have always known how sad it was that people do not recognize Him when it is really Him we are celebrating....but looking at it from a drawn back point of view relay made it vividly obvious to me how truly sad it is.
Have a merry CHRISTmas, and remember to keep Him at the center of your celebration as well as everything you do!
