2018 Home for the Holidays

2018 Home for the Holidays LINCOLN DAILY NEWS November 21, 2018 Page 5 To prevent the chill from coming in, friends and family come together to open the holidays with the warmth of thanks, gathered around a table with love, to laugh, to hear stories and to eat much together in a house warmed by the oven and warmed by their gathering. Prayers are said aloud and prayers are lifted silently remembering humble beginnings and giving thanks for steadfast love. Because the trees outside grow weary and drop their leaves, we bring an ever-green tree inside, a tree that symbolizes life and lifts our spirits. We merrily decorate that tree, making it even more beautiful, giving our home a living center where our joy can grow. It is the living reminder of that barren tree from which God’s grace freely flowed. And to fend off the dark, to make the days grow longer, we light candles and decorate with strings of lights, colored and white. The magic begins to emerge from within and without. Hearts are lifted, spirits aloft, and a sense of awe fills us as our lives are filled with mirth. Gaily wrapped presents are exchanged, symbols of care and love. Laughter and singing fill the air, as we joyfully watch the kids play with the empty boxes. And finally, in the very end of the year, old things, sad things, things that separate us and hold us apart are laid aside and forever forgotten. It is a season of renewal, of relationship, of forgiveness, looking onto the promise of the future. The New Year is upon us. And so, prepare your hearts. Put off the weight of the world, the worries, the cares. Prepare to receive it as it comes your way: the warmth, the life and the light of the world, for it is coming. Together we say come: the magic, surprise and the awe of the holidays! From all of us to all of you, the happiest holidays. God bless! [LDN]