Day 24: Christmas Eve Service

Today is my favorite Christmas tradition.  The Christmas Eve service at church.  The church I grew up in did a candlelight service.  I loved it.  I remember how special I thought it was that we sang songs together by candlelight.  The year I was allowed to hold a candle on my own, I felt so grown up.  I remember those services of our entire family being together and the church being packed.

The church we attend now, doesn't do a candlelight service, but they have a special tradition too.  They always end the service by singing Silent Night.  During the song, you're suppose to share words of affirmation and affection with those you love who are there with you.  I love this tradition.  It focuses on the blessings in our lives (the people we love) and names a specific time to show this through words and physical touch.  Its a time of hugging, kisses and saying "I love you!"

If you're wondering why no one is sitting near us, its not because we smell bad or anything.  We were just crazy early---like 30 minutes.  Yep, that's how excited about the service I was.

 Our church has childcare for kids from birth to first grade during this service, but since the boys have been 4, we have them sit with us for the Christmas Eve service.  I want them to know Christmas Carols and to have them have memories of singing them (like I do).  I want them to understand before we open presents what the point of the present-giving is and that the most important gift you can ever receive is the saving grace of Jesus.  I want them to be there when we sing Silent Night.  Getting sweet hugs from them and exchanging "I love you's" is something I'll always remember.  Next year I'm not sure that I'll be able to actually pick all 3 of them up they're getting so big.

This year we had Aaron join us in "big church" for the service too.  I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was a wee bit nervous (okay, kinda sweating bullets) about how tough the service could be with all 3 boys trying to sit still and be quiet during it.  They did great though.  Surprisingly, Aaron was the least fidgety of all of them.  I think it helps that our church does a pretty big production including an amazing movie, drama and interpretive dance version of the Nativity Story.  We had already seen the service when we attended one of the services two days before with our friends, but I enjoyed it even more the second time around.  It also helps that Grandma Mary & Pa Lynn were with us and we could alternate sitting between adults and kids so that no two kids were next to each other.

On this Christmas Eve, my heart is full.  I feel blessed to have such wonderful family in my life (my little guys, my husband, my parents, and my siblings & their families).  More than that, I'm thankful that God sent his Son to rescue me from my sins.  I'm thankful that Jesus arrived in flesh and later died for me as part of God's salvage mission.  I'm thankful that I've accepted this gift and can celebrate it with the ones I love.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!