My Grown-up Christmas List

First …

… I'm sure most of you have probably heard David Foster's "Grown-up Christmas List", which he recorded with Natalie Cole for a non-holiday album in 1990. Amy Grant probably made the song famous, with Kelly Clarkson taking it to even further heights in 2003. The song is about an adult visiting Santa Claus, and the adult presenting Santa with a list of non-material gifts that they'd like for Christmas - great gifts that would be very beneficial to much of humanity. Here's mine - my grown-up Christmas list, the first of which comes straight from Luke Chapter 2 –

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

I love the Christmas story, indeed, in my eyes, the greatest story ever told. Reading out of Luke to my family on Christmas Eve every year was, and is still, a highlight of my Christmas season. For the gift of Christ is the greatest gift anyone can ever receive, and it is my Christmas wish that, in addition to peace on earth, and goodwill towards men, that more will see the gift that Christ has provided us, and will accept that gift freely during this season of His birth.

… and 10 (some more wishes, with varying degrees of both silliness and seriousness)

1.      With the word out of North Korea this week that Kim Jong was no longer Il, and that he was now, in fact, Kim Jong Dead, I wish that the North Korean people could see him for the tyrant he was rather than holding him up as the “Benevolent Leader” he brainwashed them into thinking he was. His people, for better or worse, loved and revered the little guy even though the average income for North Koreans is less than $1900. A year! That’s annually! For whatever bad things we can say about Kim, and there are plenty, we must give him credit for being able to get his people to suffer happily while he spent lavish amounts of money chasing his own nuclear ambitions and indulging himself in every decadent manner possible. While his people starved, he spent billions to develop nuclear weapons, ride the most expensive jet skis he could buy, and sent his personal chef around the world for expensive and exotic foods and spirits for his own personal pleasure. Quit wailing, people, and rejoice with the rest of the world that yet another tyrant is gone.

2.      Now that the US military is out of Iraq, for the most part, I wish that not one more American life be lost within the borders of that country. Too many have made that sacrifice already, and we should make it a priority that not one more life will be lost there. Afghanistan, too, while we’re at it.

3.      I wish that I would never again have to hear about a tragedy or a death during the holidays. I’ve already heard of 5 within the past few days – 3 car accidents and 2 deaths of natural causes. All but one of the victims was under the age of 21. Sad to hear anytime, but the pain is exponentially worse during a holiday, and especially so at Christmas. Puts a damper on the holiday for years to come. Praying for the families of those whose loved ones were lost within the past week.

4.      Wishing, again, for a White Christmas. Just think it’d be cool.

5.      I wish for rain – an abundance of rain – for the Texas Hill Country. While our drought here in Northeast Texas has abated considerably in the past few weeks, Central Texas is still hurting, and hurting badly. Lake Buchanan is 23 feet below its December average and Lake Travis is 43 feet below its December average. Both lakes are at 37% of their capacity. They need rain – and lots of runoff.

6.      I wish that nobody would be hungry this Christmas season, or ever for that matter. As I look around and see the excesses that we indulge in, I am often reminded that there’ll be lots of folks around the world who would be grateful – extremely grateful – for our table scraps. Remember this, and give freely to the food banks, to local churches, and to grocery store food drives whenever you have the chance. A hot meal, something most of us take for granted, might be the only thing, truly the best thing, many folks receive this Christmas season.

7.      I wish that we’d all slow down, and enjoy the moment. I wish this not only for the Christmas season, but in the days and months to come as well. I really need to make an effort here; I am pretty good at enjoying the Christmas moment, not so good the rest of the year. Take in the moment, live in the moment, enjoy the moment … for the moment may never come again.

8.      I wish that gasoline would drop to below $2 per gallon (If you’d told me 10 years ago that would be a Christmas wish, I’d have probably thought you were crazy!)

9.      I wish that I had some kind of musical talent. I can’t sing, I can’t play an instrument. I can’t do much of anything when it comes to music. I’ve longed to play piano my entire life – I wish that I will someday be able to find the time to have someone teach me how.

10.  Finally, I wish everyone a very special holiday – it is a magical time of year, and not for the presents, not for the commercialization, not for the parties or the food. It’s magical for the giving – the giving of a Savior, the giving of a life, and the giving of grace – all of it for free. Wishing all of you – my family, my friends, indeed, everyone – Merry Christmas!