Dear Lord; Merry Christmas Eve Father!  This morning, following the “tradition” I started on Thanksgiving this year, I’m going to let two of my biggest Blessings (my sons Jonathan and Aidan) compose the email to you.  I battled with what questions to give them to work from this morning, but couldn’t decide between two; “What does Christmas mean to you?” and “What Blessings do you want to thank God for at Christmas time?”.  Therefore, I thought we’d do both!  🙂

Jonathan (Age 11)

What does Christmas mean to you? :

“Christmas means to me that it’s time for Joy, Peace and Happiness.  It’s also the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.”

What Blessings do you want to thank God for at Christmas time?:

“God has blessed me with many things; my family, my friends, shelter and food.  I have fun, and things to do.  God has helped me stay healthy after I was really sick.  Thank you God!”

Aidan (Age 8)

What does Christmas mean to you?:

“Christmas means celebrating Jesus’ Birthday.  You get to be with your family.  You get time off school.  You get to spend time with your friends.  You get decorate the house.”

What Blessings do you want to thank God for at Christmas time?:

“I want to thank God for money, health, food, shelter, my family, my brother, something to do, our pets, and for my life.”

Father, on this Eve of Celebration of Your Son’s Divine Birth I want to thank You myself as well.  You gave Your Only Son to us to inspire us, teach us, set a Holy Path for us to follow, and then to die for our Eternal Salvation.  I can’t imagine a more amazing Gift, and I’m truly humbled by Your Love for us.  Please reach out Father, to those struggling to find the Peace Christ brought to us all and let them feel Your Loving Arms around them.

May we all take time during the next couple of days to stop, let our earthly stresses go, and focus on the Wondrous Gift Our Lord has given to us.  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

Amen.  ~Phather Phil