Rejoice! No, really! Relax and rejoice!

Today is Christmas Eve.

(Well, not really. It's Friday, Dec. 19, and I'm working against an "early deadline" to get the paper finished today because it goes to press at noon Sunday and the page builder has to finish it today so she doesn't accrue overtime. But, when the paper is out "on the streets" it will be Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014, -- Christmas Eve.)

Are you ready for Christmas?

That seems to be the greeting people use this time of year -- are you ready?

What does it mean?

For many, it means having bought all the groceries for the Christmas feast, purchased or made the Christmas gifts, wrapped them, placed them under the perfectly decorated tree in the perfectly decorated house, mailed all the Christmas cards with the beautifully posed people smiling from the photograph accompanied by the informative and positive Christmas newsletter chronicling the previous year.

Are you ready?

Yesterday, standing in line (one of several lines) amidst too many people waiting to mail a letter "overnight" to college for my son, I overheard a conversation between a lady (customer) and the man behind the counter (post office employee).

"Good morning. How's your day?"

"I've had better," he responded wryly.

"Well, have you had worse," she said, trying to bring a smile to the man's dour countenance.

"No, can't say that I have... I hate this time of year. I hate Christmas."

I cringed. I grieved for the man and for his family (he wore a wedding ring with a cross on it) and for all who echo that sentiment.

What have we done?!

Christmas is about the greatest gift ever given! It's about bringing joy to mankind and sharing that joy with one another. It's about giving, giving love -- first from God to man and then to one another.

"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.' For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"" Luke 2:10-11, 14

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV)

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

If someone walked up to you now and gave you keys and the title to a new car and said it is a free gift -- no hidden costs -- what would you do? Most likely, you'd rejoice.

Why is it that we get excited about material things that tarnish and decay but don't rejoice over eternal, unfading gifts that can not be taken away?

This Christmas, no matter what has led you to this moment, slow down, take a minute to reflect on what is truly important and rejoice, enjoy Christ and your loved ones in this holiday season.

•••

Editor's note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County, chosen the best small weekly newspaper in Arkansas for five of the past six years. A native of Louisiana, she moved to northwest Arkansas in 1980 to work for the Benton County Daily Record. She has nine children, four sons-in-law, six grandsons, a granddaughter and another granddaughter due in January. She can be reached at [email protected].

Editorial on 12/24/2014