Oh, How We Praise Him!

This morning, likely because the weather is much the same as it was back then, I was remembering a day many, many Christmases ago. The ground was covered in snow, the sun was shining brightly through the windows, and the house smelled of pine boughs. My mother's winter geese decorations were scattered across the house, and her Madame Alexander dolls were displayed on a desk in their delicate, antique glory. My siblings and I were enjoying Christmas vacation with our mother by dancing around the house and listening to The Oakridge Boys sing "Jesus is Born Today" while the old Christmas record spun around and around on the turntable. The day was filled with the simple joy of anticipating Santa's visit, nibbling sugar cookies decorated with chocolate chips and red and green sprinkles, and being with family. Nothing happened that day - it was just a day. But whenever I hear that song, I will remember the happiness of my youth, and I will be grateful to have grown up in a home where an ordinary day would stay in my memory as such a gift.