Nightfall is near and soon enough Christmas will be here.
There’s still the last-minute gift shopping throughout the day over at Cross Creek Mall and the downtown shops, and, oops, let me swing by the Dollar Tree for gift wrapping tissue, extra holiday ribbons, bows and AA batteries, lest we forget.
“Nothing says the spirit of Christmas,” some of us muse, “like the Dollar Tree.”
Old Saint Nick will be around throughout this day for one last child to sit atop his sturdy knee to hear a last request for that special gift underneath the tree and a photo op before taking his leave back to the North Pole for a committee meeting with his elves.
Santa’s elves will be packing the sleigh, and Santa will harness Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph in preparation for his annual midnight ride to the rooftops across the world. A peck on Mrs. Santa’s cheek, and Santa will be on his way.
“Don’t forget your navigation Garmin,” Mrs. Santa will remind Saint Nick. “You don’t want to get lost and lose your way.”
Old Santa will give a wink of the eye to his reindeer.
“Not to worry, dear,” he’ll say, “We’ve been doing this midnight ride a long time.”
O Holy Night
Soon enough, the malls and the shopping center parking lots will be barren as a desert, and Christians worldwide will turn their thoughts to the true meaning of Christmas, when a child was born in a manger because there was no room at the inn.
Many of our church sanctuaries will fill with evening candlelight services, where we’ll celebrate with communion, Christmas hymns of Silent Night and O Holy Night on this most serene and calm night with prayers of hope for peace on earth and goodwill toward all.
Imagine, if you will, the anticipation more than 2,000 years ago in the little town of Bethlehem, with Mary, Joseph and the shepherds in wait on what scripture tells us of a night so tender and bright and God’s angels looking down.
Candlelight services are poignant. They bring us closer to one another on this most tranquil and peaceful night of the year.
Most all of us have our Christmas Eve traditions. For some, a Bible scripture, i.e. Luke 2, verse 7; a small glass of eggnog, with a splash of bourbon and a toast to loved ones present and past; opening one gift before Christmas Day, but just one; a candle’s glow at a mother’s grave, with the little, white church steeple near, and then down long and winding N.C. 690 with memories of Christmas Eve nights of long ago to cherish and never to be forgotten.
Epilogue
So, here we are on this Christmas Eve, with a last-minute gift to remember or that overlooked thought of AA and AAA batteries. Remember the Christmas Eve rule of thumb: “Nothing says the spirit of Christmas,” some of us muse, “like the Dollar Tree.”
Now off to bed early, children, because old Santa says he’ll soon be on his way, and don’t forget the milk and cookies, because the midnight ride is long, and Santa says he has Christmas stops to make, places to be and no time to tarry.
May the lights on your tree twinkle softly as midnight nears, and the candles in your windows, too. May our stockings be filled and our hearts, too, with joy of the true meaning of Christmas on this, the most serene night of the year.
“Joy to the world,” let us sing in harmony with one another. “The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King.”
May God bless, and Merry Christmas.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961
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