Ready for Christmas, always........

Isn't it funny how people always ask this time of year......"are you ready for Christmas?" Its meant to assess if you have shopping, wrapping, card sending, etc completed. But i am thinking these days its a good question to ask often and all through the year. Are we at any time ready to celebrate the birth of Christ? Matt played flag football this year with Upwards. If you ever have a chance to be involved in this organization I cannot say enough good things. One of the lessons they taught the kids was about celebrating. It was strange to see kids in football/cheerleading uniforms with birthday party hats on. A great lesson for the kids to celebrate often. Celebrate birth, Celebrate life and celebrate in death. Now that one is a tough one. I can't celebrate when someone I love dies. I can't celebrate when someone I don't know dies tragically. It is however a beautiful thing when a life that has ended is celebrated. I am awed and amazed by loved ones who even in times of mourning can think of others. Our church family lost a young member tragically this week. Celebration, no, but ready for Christmas, yes. Ready for Christ at any moment, yes. Celebrating Him, yes.