Sometimes Less is More

I’d planned to share several recipes for this week’s blog posting. Recipes that make me think of Christmas. Mama’s fudge recipe. Mama’s frozen cranberry salad. Oyster and chestnut dressing. Warm, fruity punch with just a hint of tartness. Christmas morning scrambled eggs. Seafood lasagna. All of these and maybe more.

In the part of the world where I live, December 21 is the shortest day of the year. The day of the year with least amount of daylight. I think it’s interesting that the day is only four short days away from the birthday of the Light of the world, Jesus. And it was yesterday.

Probably by now, you have heard or read of the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21. I’ve heard that this particular configuration was supposed to resemble the skies the night that Jesus was born. I’ve read that the skies haven’t appeared like this so close to Christmas for 800 years. Quite frankly, I don’t know if either is true. Maybe both are. Maybe neither is. What is true, however, is that only God could make the planets align in the way He has done.

Over the past several days, I’ve talked to numerous friends who are celebrating Christmas more privately this year than they’ve ever done before. This, because of COVID. My crew and I are no exception to the quiet celebration of the new normal. We are hopeful, however, with the promise the vaccine gives, that the quiet Christmas we hope to enjoy in 2020 will give way to the old normal, the normal that we knew in 2019 and all the years before, in 2021.

This made me remember and reflect that Christmas is to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. It’s not about presents. It’s not about being under a lot of undue stress and strain over not finding exactly the right gift for your loved ones. It’s not about decorating and decking your house out for Christmas. It’s not about the ugly Christmas sweater. It’s not about the excess calories consumed, delicious though they are. It’s only about Jesus.

According to Biblical accounts, it was probably pretty quiet that night of long ago in Bethlehem. In a stable. Maybe the cows were mooing. Maybe sheep were making sheep sounds. Maybe a dog was running around. The baby Jesus was born. That’s the only important part of Christmas.

Merry CHRISTmas blessings to you and those you love.