light needed

I realized something. Light makes all the difference. Before going to Tennessee for Thanksgiving with my family, I put up some of my Christmas decor. I didn't' have time to put up the tree, though, and so didn't get into the box with the strands of lights. My end tables, mantel, and shelves were lavish with Christmas glam, but there was something missing.

Last night, we finally got the tree up, and I started stringing lights onto the garland surrounding my other ornaments. And voile! There was holiday sparkle at last. What was just pretty baubles became beautiful vignettes when the lights were added.

It reminded me that Christ is the light that makes the holiday glow warm in our world. Without Him, the trinkets of the season are dull . With Him, this time of year shines brightly in our hearts and through us into a dark world.

The prophet said "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelled in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)

That verse is for Christmas 2008 too.