Unbridled Joy

   We had a Christmas dinner at our home today.  Among those present was a 5-year old girl, the grand-daughter of a friend.  It’s been a while since we’ve experienced the energy and enthusiasm of one so young.  It added a great blessing to the day’s celebration.  A very wonderful experience of joy.

   I couldn’t help but notice the delight in her eyes as she opened the small gifts we had for her.  It was the pure joy of a child receiving a gift.  I find it sad that most adults seem to have “out-grown” such enthusiasm in their lives.  We tend to be more adult in our celebrations, more mature; we’ve lost the abandonment to joy that we once knew.

   It occurred to me that the joy and happiness of this little girl is the perfect example of how to celebrate Christmas.  Our joy should be as evident and enthusiastic as that of a child opening Christmas gifts or discovering the treasures left under the tree by Santa.  They will have time as they grow older to begin to realize the true meaning of Christmas.  For now, we need to enjoy their excitement and have that same enthusiasm as we contemplate the birth of our Lord.

   Christmas is a time for unbridled joy.  I wish all of us could emulate the enthusiasm, wonder and happiness of a child at Christmas.  Somehow I think Jesus would be pleased if we would show that child-like enthusiasm for His birthday.

Lord, there is much we can learn from our children.

Their joy is so enthusiastic and pure.

Help us to have that kind of joy in our hearts;

To celebrate your birth with the joy of a child.

Amen