Just another Christmas?

I was born with the name Rudolph so Christmas and I were destined to get along well. As a matter of fact, one of the gifts given to me at my birth, which I still have in my possession, was a 78 rpm recording of Gene Autry singing about the famed red-nosed reindeer.
Funny though, I have always preferred the B-Side of that single which was a song entitled, “If It Doesn’t Snow On Christmas!” I always play it on my Christmas Eve radio show which this year will be done LIVE on 98.7 The Coast from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
I grew up with an Italian Mom and a Polish Father so both sides of the family provided many wonderful cherished traditions and the best food on the planet.
Granted, Mom’s side got more time in the early days as we lived closer to her relatives but I will always count one of my best Christmas Eve’s hanging out with my Dad’s relations.
There was the huge Sheptock variety show one Dec. 24 that featured all of us singing or dancing as my Uncle Joey was a veteran of New York television in the 50s when he appeared on the show “StarTime” that featured Connie Francis and Barry, “I’m Getting Nothing For Christmas” Gordon.
Let’s just say we gave the Andy Williams and Bing Crosby clan a run for their money. The song I sang that night was not a Christmas carol but the old tune “More” that I had just performed for the nuns at the Catholic school I was attending back then. “I know I never lived before and my heart is very sure, no one else could love you more!”
Speaking of the 1960s, how many of you remember the cheesy Christmas movies we were shown at the local theater matinees? “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” and “There Once Was a Christmas that Almost Wasn’t,” that featured the Wonderama host Sonny Fox and the gentle birthday house leader, Paul Tripp.
My kids laugh at those movies rolling their eyes saying, “Daddy, I can’t believe you thought these special effects were good.” I still remember seeing the film, “Santa Claus” which even featured the devil in a prime role. No wonder I had such nightmares and guilt as a child.
And I can brag about the fact that I saw “A Charlie Brown’s Christmas” and “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” and “The Grinch” when they debuted on television. Granted I watched it in glorious black-and-white and we all had to wait for that once a year night when it would be broadcast and didn’t have the option of VHS, DVD, DVR or any other initials you might throw together.
I really wish it would snow this Christmas Eve. I have seen the forecast and pardon me if I don’t do a dance of joy over the 60-plus degree forecast. To me there is something magical about a white Christmas and it is probably one of the reasons I will never move to a tropical climate.
I think just knowing there is always a possibility keeps me hopeful. Another treasured memory of my childhood was a blizzard on Christmas Eve and we had not gotten our tree yet and it didn’t look good as the snow piled up and nobody was going anywhere.
My Mom had us kids set up candles on a table in the living room and we all sang “Silent Night” before we were sent off to bed. It was a true miracle in the eyes of this kid when he woke up Christmas morning to not only find the presents but a fully decorated living Christmas tree standing where the table with the candles had been. I was convinced that there had to be a Santa Claus after that experience and I am still a believer today.
As I shared with The Lighthouse Church congregation last Sunday that as I get older, the time seems to fly by faster and the hot flashes seem to occur more often and I have come to realize that with each passing year, there seem to be more and more of my loved ones celebrating Christmas in heaven where I, too, one day look forward to being. 
Can you imagine the music alone? I will be able to hear the “Herald Angels” sing live and in person. I can hang out with the one and only St. Nicholas and learn in his own words the many adventures he had in being a giver rather than a taker.
I will be able to express my gratitude to Jesus face-to-face and thank him for giving up all the comforts of Glory to come down and do what he did so that I wouldn’t have to fend for myself with no hope or future.
This is why my favorite church service has always been midnight Mass because there is such anticipation and expectation on Christmas Eve and I have yet to see that longing ever satisfied with the presents that come along the next morning. But just lingering in the Lord’s presence the night before and knowing that one day everything will be as it was designed to be makes me love the Jesus of Christmas even more.
So as we embark upon another Christmas Day, please remember that there are those around you and me that need to know they are loved and are special. They need to be reminded that they are not alone or abandoned.
They may have never had the precious memories that you and I can hold near and dear so we have to become God’s instruments in their lives to love on them and invite them to find at the manger what will never be for sale at the mall.
Who is hurting that could use your hug? Who is lonely that could use your hand? Who is empty that could use your heart light to showcase Emmanuel, the one who came to rescue the lost and redeem the lives of every man, woman and child?
Christmas is powerless without majoring on the Christ who, because he came, made it possible for all of us to be able to celebrate the reality of a forever relationship with God.
If you need a place to go this Christmas Eve, come and join us at The Lighthouse Church. We have services at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. You don’t have to dress up or bring a gift.
But come expecting God to heal the brokenness and hold your head up to witness the wonder that so many missed that first night in Bethlehem because they assumed they already had it all together.
Make room in your heart this Christmas for Jesus and he will promise you that you will always have a place in his family.
I wish you only God’s richest blessings which will always be more intangible than material but, then again, hasn’t it always been about our hearts and souls?
Merry Christmas!
Thanks for being there to read my random thoughts each week. You are all a gift to me.