When a woman asked me that question yesterday I was nonplused. Other than it being a day to savor all kinds of memories, open some packages from loved ones and cherish thoughts of family and friends, we have no other plans.

Going “out to eat” is skippable; does not appeal during a pandemic. So, we will simply be at home where a renewed connection by phone with family and friends is a given. Good feelings of yesterday still loiter after sending cards and Christmas letters to our friends and family spread out as far away as Norway.

We will enjoy our tree with “ornaments” reminding of long held memories—especially of December 25, 1966, the day I married a Navy Seabee, who had orders in his pocket for Vietnam. Each year, a little, pink net bag of rice hangs on our Christmas tree in memory of that memorable day.

Lo, Christmas is arriving again soon, coming up in five days. It will find us having a tacos feed, as this is the favorite meal of our son who is staying with us for the holiday and part of the winter. Our hearts will rejoice that he is alive after a fairly recent open heart surgery.

But—here’s the big deal: We will stream a message for the enlargement of our hearts, as Christmas is truly all about Christ. Through preparing for this day of love, I have stayed with “the message” each today, wanting this season to bring me into a deeper, wider understanding of “the peace that surpasses all understanding” that guards my heart and the hearts of all His followers.

This is an unusual blog as the core of it lies with a message streamed early this morning, to my IPhone, by Charles Stanley. His message reached me deeply, while hearing it in a quiet house, before anyone else is up. I share a link here, for through this amazing message I came to an even broader understanding of why God sent His Son to us in a manager, as a human baby—and why Jesus, Lord of all Lords wanted to be here with us . . . yet, ultimately what He did changed history—even how we record it: like, today is December 20, 2020 AD anno Domini, medieval Latin meaning “in the year of the Lord.”

Here is the message. If you listen, life may change . . . and all about our “being here” may even become much clearer. It holds power to give you a lift that even alcohol or opioids fail to match—as it is a lasting lift. After all, it’s not what we do on Christmas Day; it’s what we do with the message of the Day.

After hearing the link, please write to me through the Home page “Contact” option, sharing how it affects you. I trust hearing this message will not just heighten Christmas Day—but may hold sway, changing all Christmas Days henceforth, bringing an even greater measure of excellence to your life.

https://www.intouch.org/Listen/All-Channels/featured/jesus-our-great-high-priest