Being Thankful: Day Twenty-Six

I grew up knowing that the Christmas season doesn't start until the day after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is its own holiday, and just because everybody else skips it doesn't mean our family has to. Thanks to that upbringing, I am a bit of a stickler about that. I only start listening to Christmas music once Thanksgiving is over.

For some reason, it was much harder to stick to that this year. I have wanted to listen to Christmas music for a couple of weeks now, but I was good and didn't. (Okay, so maybe I played a couple of songs on the piano earlier this week, but that was it.) And I'm glad I didn't, because now that it is actually the Christmas season, Christmas music is so much better. I'm not sure why it works that way, but it does.

I love Christmastime. I love Christmas music. I love having white Christmases and seeing Christmas lights on houses. I love Christmas trees and decorating for the holidays. I love how Christmas brings out the generosity in people. I love the Sub for Santa and Angel Tree programs that give people opportunities to give to those who are less fortunate. I love watching little kids get so excited about Santa's visit. I just love everything about Christmas.

I am so thankful for this time of year. I'm thankful that for at least a few weeks, we hear songs like "Silent Night" and "Angels We Have Heard on High." When else are we inundated with reminders of the Savior's birth? The spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ. It's the one time of year when most people allow that Spirit in willingly, when they might otherwise eschew it. This is why I love Christmas. It is a holiday completely about our Savior and Redeemer; how could anyone not love it?