THE MORAL OF THE STORY:Is your heart ready for Christmas?

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”

— Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby.

Stop, look, listen. What do you see? Do you see a house beckoning you to a never-ending marathon of projects in one room after the other?

Christmas is almost here. Are you ready? Have you scanned your house, the clock and the calendar in the hope that you can somehow manage to get it all done, when you aren’t even sure you know what it all really is but you know it’s a lot?

Stop, look, listen. What do you hear? Do you hear the roar of your mental list calling you to another nonstop day of errands and busyness? Christmas is just around the corner. Are you ready? Or are you just skimming this column while downing a cup of coffee before gearing up for the final sprint before Christmas?

Stop, look, listen. What do you feel? Do you feel tired way down deep? Are you afraid to stop because there is just too much to do and you are afraid that if you stop you won’t be able to start again?

One friend of mine said that she is so exhausted that she just wishes she could take a long winter’s nap and wake up to New Year’s Day. What a sad commentary about how easy it is to get so wound up trying to do what seems like all the right things that we risk spinning right past the real things — the things that count, the things that last.

Are we spending too much time and energy on things that won’t last?

To be sure, there are magnificent sights to behold at Christmas. What could be more festive than when all is bright with Christmas decorations, twinkling lights and roaring fires?

Indeed, there are wonderful sounds of Christmas that we look forward to hearing year after year. We love joyful sounds that come from Christmas carols, sleigh bells ringing, children laughing and all the other fun fa la la la la — but those will all fade away in time.

Nobody can deny the deliciousness of Christmas, the elegant meals and the delicious delights, be they candies, cookies, puddings, pies, hot chocolate or fruitcake. But even those tastes lose their flavor after we’ve reached saturation point.

It’s great to enjoy all the wonderful trimmings of Christmas, but don’t forget to enjoy the main course, the main event, the best gift of all: Jesus.

God was the first and best gift-giver, and he still offers his gift today. God is even better than the best of the best of what is under the biggest Christmas tree. That baby born so long ago offers a gift to you now.

God offers his gift of love, peace, hope and joy that lasts not just for December or the New Year, but year in and year out, for all of time. You don’t want to miss out.

Stop, look, listen. Are you ready? I don’t mean your house; I mean your heart.

Take a deep breath. Take another deep breath. Say a prayer. Listen. Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her king.

And you can quote me on that.