MORAL OF THE STORY:

“God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is love; the radiance of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, which is Christ.”

“Christmas was much more fun when I was a child,” the woman said. “Christmas is really only special for children. For the rest of us, it’s just a longer list of things to do.”

The woman then sighed deeply as she dug for her wallet in her purse. The clerk looked weary herself as she nodded and handed the receipt to the woman whose cellphone suddenly burst forth in “Joy to the World.” The woman began talking and left without acknowledging the clerk.

When it was my turn, I asked the saleswoman how she was doing. “You’re the first person to ask me that all day,” she answered. “Everybody else just tells me their woes and worries about how much else they have to do before Christmas.”

I chatted with the woman while she rang up my purchases. I asked about her family, and before she turned to help the woman behind me, she thanked me for being kind. I told her we would all do well to listen to and live by the words of the song that played on the other woman’s cellphone. She nodded, and we wished each other a Merry Christmas.

I walked to my car singing, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come.” Christmas isn’t just for children, but it began with God’s only child, the perfect gift. Just imagine how special this Christmas, and every day in fact, could be if we really lived believing that God offers His joy to the world through His Son Jesus, whose birth we are soon to celebrate.

May God grant you the all of Christmas, which is Christ. Come, let us adore Him.

And you can quote me on that.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached at [email protected] or 537 Newport Center Drive, Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.