“Oh come let us adore Him!”
This year, my family gathered for Thanksgiving at my parents’ house. I learned that the close by city of Macon, was having an “Extravaganza of Lights,” in their downtown which began on Black Friday.
My family loves a Christmas light display, so we couldn’t resist.
I’ll have to admit that I was a little skeptical of what we would find. It was put on by a church and it was free, even the parking. I suppose I have become so accustomed to having to pay for everything, especially parking, that I couldn’t imagine what a free light display would look like.
Nevertheless, we piled into the car and headed over to Macon as it got dark. The streets were crowded with people, but we were able to find a free parking space. When we got out, we could hear someone over a speaker discussing the lights and preparation and we started towards it, when a gentleman stopped us and told us we should, “Wait for it,” as he pointed to a tree next to him.
We looked around and every single tree was wrapped in unlit lights. There were other people just standing in place as well.
Not wanting to miss anything, we waited.
The man on the speaker finished talking and then he said he was going to say a word of prayer.
I was a little stunned. Christmas has become so commercialized and secular, a prayer? On main street America?
I bowed my head and when he finished, an orchestra started playing a traditional Christmas song and the landscape sprang to life. With the flip of a switch, I became a child again, basking in the magic and wonder of Christmas that we were never meant to outgrow.
The display spread out over five city blocks. Every block had different colors and displays and they all were synchronized to the music. Not only could I see the joy on the face of every man, woman and child who I passed by, I could feel the joy in the air.
I felt like I was walking around in a Hallmark movie.
Afterwards, when I was back at work, I was telling a friend about it and she said, “It sounds a little like heaven, with the music, lights, praise and joy.”
I hadn’t thought about it that way, but I supposed it did. Maybe that was the reason I had to fight tears the entire time we were there.
Although Christmas is meant to be the celebration of when Heaven came to earth, we sometimes lose that along the way, yet our hearts were made to long for more.
Our hearts were made to long for Jesus.
Someday, when we get to heaven, our days will be filled with light, joy and songs, but until then, may we all remember that Jesus is the reason for the season and take time to bask in the knowledge that He is with us even now.
That truth alone, should fill the season with both joy and wonder. A Christmas light show reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 😊