Of Christmas, and home

Just the other day after lectures and as we were packing our notes and things to go home, I suddenly had this.... vision?- of me going to the Chinese Town Hall in Bentong for pork noodles. Lunchtime on Fridays, with mom, pa and Ning. It was so vivid - not just a vision, but a feeling as well. A looking-forward, an anticipation. The feeling was so..... real, I was taken aback once I'd snapped out of the whole 'illusion'.

Which brings me once again, to one of the deepest longings of my heart - to be home, celebrating Christmas with my family.

Here we are, as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more

Yet Christmas is more than that. More than nostalgic Christmas songs, more than yet another a holiday season, more than the company of friends and family over a Christmas dinner, more than just warm, fuzzy feelings. How many times have I had to remind myself about that in the past couple of weeks. Christmas is about the baby Jesus and the hope, joy and peace He brought - which He offers yet to the people He loves. And that is me and you.

Christmas isn't Christmas
'Til it happens in your heart
Somewhere deep inside you
Is where Christmas really starts
So give your heart to Jesus
You'll discover when you do
That it's Christmas
Really Christmas for you

Each one of us has been given this wondrous gift - are we going to leave this gift unopened, year after year after year? Why not open it this year? (=