Christmas: Past, Present and Future
“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.” Lk 2:1-14
Christmas is a time of traditions. All of us have those family traditions that make our family’s Christmas unique. Christmas is a time of joy, a time of hope for peace on earth, but Christmas can be a time of sadness too.
Perhaps no other time of the year draws families together like Christmas, yet we often hear about many things that separate families at this time. Some of those things can be arguments, fights, divorce, overseas military service and death. Of the many things that can tear families apart, of course death is the one thing that affects all families. For most people, Christmas is also that time when the memories of lost loved ones, brings tears to our eyes.
Yes, Christmas is a time for families, and for Christians who have lost loved ones we recognize that this separation due to death is temporary. In fact, this is part of the Good News of Christmas. We celebrate the birth of infant Jesus who was destined to break the bonds of death so that we can look forward to the day we will all be reunited in the presence of our God.
We see memories of Christmas in our mind’s eye through the prism of time. We remember Christmas as little children, young adulthood, early parenthood, and perhaps as grandparents and great grandparents. As we pass through these stages, the memories change, fade and new ones are made.
Possibly everything profound that can be said about Christmas has been said, so today, rather than trying to say something special, I would like to just share one of my Christmas memories with you.
I think most kids growing up have a favorite Christmas song. My favorite Christmas song is a relatively unknown song. It is “Touch Hands on Christmas Morning,” by Mike Douglas. When I was a child I liked to have this song playing on the record player as we opened Christmas presents.
Sharing this song brings back memories of my childhood. The lyrics are simple; the message is profound. We all have so much to be thankful for. This song sums that up by telling us to “touch hands on Christmas morning, touch hands and thank the Lord“. It invokes a prayer for peace, “pray that with tomorrow, the plow will bury the sword.” Our world needs prayer. We desperately need peace. Peace in the world, peace in our families, and that inner peace that only Jesus Christ can give.
As we celebrate our Lord’s birth, let us be reminded that He came into our world and broke the chains of death, and in doing so He gave us the hope that those memories of years gone by can be re-lived when we are all reunited again in His presence in Heaven. This truly is the good news!
With the help of my tech-savvy daughter, we created a YouTube video with the song “Touch Hands on Christmas Morning” to share one of my Christmas memories with you.
Live in the moment. Make this the best Christmas ever. This Christmas will be a memory one day. Make it one where God’s love is present, peace is present and lives are touched. Merry Christmas!
Happy Birthday Lord! We thank you for the gift of your birth. We also thank you for our families. Bless us. Keep us in your care. Send peace on earth until the day when we are all truly home for the holidays. Amen!
If you liked this song it can be downloaded from ITunes or Amazon. In fact you can download the entire album I liked so well The Twelve Days of Christmas or just this one song. Click Here
Feel free to comment below, I love to hear from you. Click here to send me an email. 
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Thanks for all the Blessings you bring to others. Merry Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year, Jim
Jim:
Thanks for your kind words and for all you do to bring Christ to others. Merry Christmas!
Brian
Brian, thank you for all you do and have done. You have touched the lives of so many with your letters and your Ministry. Have a very Merry Christmas with you and your wonderful family.
Mike:
Thanks for your very kind words. Please say hello to all of my friends in Hannibal Mo.. I sure enjoyed my visit there. I wish you and everyone there a Christ filled and joyous Christmas!
Brian
Dear Brian, Merry Christmas and thank you for the wonderful inspirational messages you share.
Doris
Doris:
Thanks for writing and Merry Christmas!
Brian
Great Christmas message! Thank you for all you do as a prisoner of Christ the Lord.
Wishing you and your family a very Bless Christmas and a Very Prosper New Year
Mark
Mark:
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thanks for writing.
Brian
Loved the song Brian! I have never heard it before. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
God Bless!
Steve:
Merry Christmas! I am delighted that you liked the song.
Brian
Beautiful as always. Thank you for sharing that song. We all have so much to be thankful for – even our challenges that make us stronger. Have a beautiful, peaceful Christmas.
Pat
Pat
Merry Christmas! Thanks for writing.
Brian
Thank you for your ministry, God has blessed you and thank you for sharing your blessings with many of us. On April 5th 2013′ my husband and my life totally changed, we became a family of five children to a family of four children. My husband found our only son had killed himself and left letters, that changed our life and dreams. He left two very young children and a wife behind. He was only 39 years old. It breaks our heart that he is gone. His little son, Clayton, misses him so much. I pray for our son every day to be his wife and children’s guardian angel to protect them and pray God will forgive him for “not wanting to live this life” as his letter stated will you pray for his eternal rewards too?
Jan:
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It must have been difficult to write about. Reading it broke my heart. Consider this a big hug from me to you and your husband. My wife and I also have 5 children and our oldest is 37 with two small children. So your situation touches close to home for me. I cannot begin to fathom the depth of your loss. Please know that I am praying for you, your son and your entire family. May God grant you the peace and joy that only He can give! Merry Christmas.
Brian