Merry Christmas!

Somehow it came. It didn't come in the usual way. There was no living tree. There were very, very few Christmas lights in the neighborhood. There was no gathering with extended family. There was no Christmas Eve celebration at church. There was no chance for snow in the nearby mountains (let alone on the continent). There were but a few small gifts and dinner was not served until 9 p.m. But Christmas came nonetheless and it was beautiful. It was very different, but it was very familiar. We celebrated Jesus' birthday, the day God became a baby boy with a destiny to save the world from sin. We enjoyed one another's company as we ate, opened presents, listened to Christmas music, talked to family on the phone, ate (some more), and entertained some of our new friends, John, Tina, Fritz, and Nora. And then we ate some dessert. And then we ate dinner (yes, in that order). Yes, Christmas in Australia was beautiful. In fact, we'll never forget it the rest of our lives. May God richly bless your Christmas too.