Let's Keep Christmas~

Hello dear friends!  Here it is just a few days before Christmas once again.  I had hoped to share our Christmas Home Tour with you today, but I still need to take a few more pictures and edit them.  The weather here has been rather dark and gloomy, making the process a bit challenging.  Especially for this amateur photog!

Instead I thought I would share a bit from my heart. And if I am being honest, something I feel is more important than yet another blogger holiday home tour.

I wanted to share a snippet from a book that was handed down to me that belonged to my precious Granny, who loved Christmas as much as I do.  She always made the season magical for us, but never lost sight of the true meaning.  And for that I am forever grateful.  She instilled in us a love for Christ like no other.

The book was gifted to my Granny and Pop in 1954, by my Great Granny, in loving memory of my Great Grandfather who passed away that year.

The book is entitled Let's Keep Christmas. A sermon by Peter Marshall.

I have had the pleasure of reading it as a devotional to several groups of friends over the past several years.  Each time all are amazed at the insight he had into the season so many years ago. 

The idea of Christmas becoming commercialized was of concern even back then.  Imagine how much more so today!

I wanted to share the last little bit of the book with you as it speaks to my heart every time I read it, and usually strikes a chord with those I am reading it to as well.

"We want to hold on to the old customs and traditions because they strengthen our family ties, bind us to our friends, make us one with all mankind for whom the Child was born, and bring us back again to the God Who gave His only begotten Son, that "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

So, we will not "spend" Christmas...
not "observe" Christmas.
We will "keep" Christmas-keep it as it is...
in all the loveliness of its ancient traditions.

May we keep it in our hearts,
that we may be kept in hope."

As many of you know we lost a precious gem this year. My sweet Mother-in-Law passed away back in March.  As we went through some of the things in her attic, I stumbled upon this little church with the stained glass windows and bell in the steeple.  It instantly reminded me of the church on the cover of the book.  It is beautiful illuminated at night.

I am so grateful to have these two precious gifts, handed down by two of the finest Christian women I have ever known, to remind me of what is truly important this time of year.

May God bless each of you this Christmas season.