Joy In My Heart

     There is a movie, I'm not going to tell you which one, but I've always loved this movie.  I've watched it every year, growing up, at Christmas time.  I'm going to tell you about the movie, you may guess which one I'm talking about, but it doesn't really matter, you will understand the point of it.
     Like in a lot of movies, there is a villain, who isn't doing well and a group of town folk, that have good lives.  This group of people are getting ready for Christmas, doing all the yearly decorating and wrapping of presents.  They are preparing for the big day, cooking food and fixing up the tree.  They all are happy and they love one another.
     This villain has never felt love, or the happiness of Christmas.  He is sad, and he let the sadness turn into bitterness.  He comes up with a plan to ruin the town folk's Christmas, by stealing everything that would make Christmas day special.
     Well, he gets away with his dirty deed, and just as the sun is rising and you think that these town people will be waking up to a ghastly day, you hear singing, instead of crying.  Yes, the town people are happy, they have joy in their hearts and they are singing.
     This villain is confused and he doesn't know what has happened, then he gets it, in my story anyway, he knows that they don't need things to be happy, they don't need special food, special trees, or decorations, they have all they need right there in their hearts.  The hope of everlasting life with Jesus Christ!  And they are singing!
     The villain changes his ways.  He goes to the town people and begs forgiveness, and of course they forgive him.  He gives back all that he has taken, and they all celebrate together.  they don't need the special food, the presents, the decorations, but they got them back and that made the day all the better.  What a glorious day!  Christmas day and a bad person is saved, and all is well. 
     That's not exactally how the movie goes, but it's how I imagined it in my mind all these years and it is the basic way to look at being a Christian.
     So as you go about your Christmas planning and preparing, remember what this day is really about, a baby born in a manger so that we can give our lives to him and have our hearts filled with the Holy Spirit and joy, peace, goodness and kindness, and after this life is done, a whole new life with our Lord.