The Happiest Christmas

Oh the happiest Christmas,
Is a home coming Christmas,
With the snow fluttering down,
Till the world seems new …


Christmas over the past few years has taken on a special meaning for me. When you live hundreds of miles from home, seeing your family becomes very infrequent. Those times when we get to go home are looked forward to for months. That time of year the trip is made, whatever it be, is bound to be highly anticipated and a treasured time of year.

In popular culture, Christmas is a time of family. So what better time to make an annual trip home to be with our family? And since we don’t see family but that time of year, oh what a wonderful time of year it is!

I remember growing up when we would go to the Crone’s and to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s for Christmas Eve and Christmas. I loved getting together to have our Christmas meal and cookies, and to play games and to just be together as a whole family.

Things and traditions have changed a lot over the past many years but the joy I take in being with you all during Christmas is still the same. I am grateful that I have only had to miss one Christmas from you so far. The Lord has blessed us with being able to go home each Christmastime even though we live so far away.

That Christmas that we were not at home, I called home on Christmas Day. I think you were all together at Grandma’s. At one point, when talking to Dad, he held the phone out and had everyone shout, “Merry Christmas, Tim!” I still remember that exactly. Standing outside in the dark evening in a muddy driveway in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina. I was so far from home, yet hearing everyone say Merry Christmas, in that brief moment, I was at home with my family.

That’s the happiest Christmas for me: being home. Christmas has become so much grander and celebrated for me because, after being away for so long, it’s the time I get to see everyone and be with them once again.


… And the happiest wishes,
Are just old fashioned wishes.
May your days be merry and your sorrows be small.
May the ones you love be near you,
That’s the happiest Christmas of all!