This year, we, The Hudsons, will celebrate our first Chuck
Town Christmas. The Christmas season is
absolutely our favorite time of year, and like Cousin Eddy from Christmas Vacation, as a family, we lick
every drip of Christmas eggnog from the moose-head cup. Consequently, like other Christmas-walnuts, we
came up with a super, awesome family tradition.
It is the Hudson’s 25 Days of Christmas.
Starting December 1st, each day leading up to Christmas, our
family participates in a Christmas activity. Activity is a broad term, so allow me to share
with you a few examples. We always purchase
a fresh-cut tree, make popcorn garland, decorate ginger bread houses or bake
sugar cookies, place lights on the house, stake down the blow-up Santa, read
the Christmas story from the Bible as we assemble the Nativity scene, and of
course watch Christmas Vacation and Christmas with the Kranks a billion
times! That’s not 25 days, but you get
the general idea. For fun, the activity
is always documented with a photo and shared on Facebook each night. I’m not sure why, but friends and family seem
to enjoy our crazy family.
The most special night is the Candlelight Christmas Eve service
at the church. Everyone enjoys juggling
molten hot wax candles, as they sing Silent
Night, but my favorite part is coming together as a church family and
remembering the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ through the ordinance
of the Lord’s Supper. This special time
together reminds me that, “Mercy triumphs
over judgement!” James 2:13.
Because of the original sin of Adam and the
deserved curse of death, every man and woman inherited the sinful nature and
death penalty. But, because of His great
mercy, while we were sinners, Christ died for our sins. God’s great mercy triumphed over His just
judgement. When God entered flesh,
through the Christ Child, Emanuel, He ultimately chose mercy over what we
deserve, judgement. I am so thankful
that God chose mercy! As you rush through
this Christmas season, allow this grand view of His great mercy to cause you to
celebrate. Mercy triumphs over
judgement! Have I told you that I love
you today? I love you, and I pray that
this is your best Christmas season ever.
