December 22, 2025

A Fun Christmas Memory

“In the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.’” Luke 2:8-14 (NASB)

“Great joy…for all people,” are some of the words spoken by the angel on the night of Christ’s birth. Today’s post is intended to stir up some joy in you.

We live in precarious and perilous times, punctuated by evil dictators, corrupt governments, power-crazed politicians, woke educators, and God-haters. In the midst of evil and chaos, let me remind you that joy is a fruit of the spirit, not the emotions, and therefore is not based on circumstances. Happiness is based on circumstances which we can’t always control; joy, however, originates in our spirit and therefore flows from Holy Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22). In the angel’s announcement above, the word “great” is the Greek word megas, from which we get the English word “mega.” Megas means over and above, above and beyond, more than enough. 

Recalling pleasant memories of past Christmases is a wonderful way to awaken joy during the holidays. They can be from when you were a child, or even as a parent or grandparent, spending time with family. The memory/memories could be of a gift you gave, or one you were given. Maybe it’s a sleigh ride, a ski trip, a family trip, watching the Nutcracker, or Christmas movies with mom, or a football game with dad. Think of something and let it unlock some joy.

Laughter is good. God said it’s like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22). Think of something from a Christmas past that’ll make you laugh. Here’s one of mine.

We once had a dog named Mercedes. Sadie, as we called her, was a Boxer. God used Mercedes greatly in my life. She taught me patience, humility, poop-scooping, and the price of dog ACL surgery. I didn’t actually mind the poop-scooping in and of itself; it was the mocking laughter I could see in her eyes as I did it that irritated me.

We bought Mercedes–yes, I paid for these lessons–because we moved to a rural area where coyotes and foxes could endanger our two other smaller dogs - they needed a bodyguard. Besides, everyone needs THREE dogs! The plan backfired. Mercedes took over our home. Ceci and the girls actually went to obedience school with her a few times. That helped - Sadie learned to sit. She came home and asserted her dominance by sitting on my chest. Seriously. I was stretched out on the floor watching a football game with a nice fire in the fireplace, when she looked proudly over at the girls and sat on my chest. “Good girl. Good sit,” they said, through uncontrolled laughter. True story.

Then there was the time she TP’d (toilet papered) the backyard. Yep, she did. We had a fenced backyard, so at times, when we left the house, we’d leave the back sliding door open a foot or so to give the dogs some freedom. Upon returning home from church one Sunday, there was a trail of toilet paper from the powder room (for all you guys, that’s the half-bath you keep clean for guests) leading through the family room, out the back door, and into the yard. Once in the backyard, it seemed that Sadie’s creative side kicked in. She went over, under, around, and through, making circles, figure 8’s, and more. Then she did her “business” while I cleaned up the toilet paper. And if you don’t see the cruel irony of that, then you’re pretty slow. I swear she was laughing. True story.

But perhaps my most humiliating experience with Mercedes was when I had to chase her around on the roof of our two-story house. I was hanging Christmas lights–you thought I had gotten off the subject of Christmas, didn’t you–and with the house layout, it was easy access to a portion of the roof from our daughter’s bedroom casement window seat. From there, I could walk to the remainder of the roof, even the higher parts. Of course, I left the window open. 

I was on all fours, carefully placing hooks for the lights on the gutters, when suddenly I heard a noise behind me. I turned, and there was Mercedes–she had joined me! I panicked. If she fell off this two-story roof and hurt herself, Ceci and the girls would never forgive me. My tone of voice and panicked attempt to grab Sadie scared her. She, of course, began running around and wouldn’t come to me. So I chased her, which caused her to run more…Kevin Costner became known to the Native Americans as “the man who dances with wolves.” I became known in our neighborhood as “man who dances with dog on roof.” True story.

Remember something today that makes you laugh. If you can’t think of anything, picture me with a 70-pound, well-trained, obedience school graduate Boxer sitting on my chest. The Message version of Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” Laugh. It’ll do you good.

Pray with me:

Father, in these precarious and perilous times, punctuated by evil dictators, corrupt and power-crazed politicians, terrorists, woke educators, and God-haters, we can still have joy. Cause the spirit of joy to rise up in Your people today. Even those in difficult circumstances, may the strength that results from joy arise in them. Temper their grief with moments of joy. If it needs to be a supernatural impartation, please do that.

Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus, who brought us mega joy. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” Because of Him, we can rejoice. Remind us to remain focused on Him this Christmas season.

And we pray for our nation. Please deliver our nation from evil doers; expose terrorists and their plans. Deliver us also from the devastation our sin and turning away from You has caused. Give us the joy that comes from true revival. Cause the awakening to create a national deliverance and turn millions toward righteousness. This has begun, but we need it to become a tidal wave! We thank You for all of this, and ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our decree:

We decree that “joy unspeakable and full of glory” is ours today through Christ. (1 Peter 1:8)

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