I confess – the unearthing of Christmas decorations continues for me, slowly but surely. Each day brings a new discovery of temporarily forgotten treasure which has been buried in my basement (along with those aforementioned dead bodies) just waiting to be rediscovered and displayed once again. And so it came to pass (how’s that for Christmassy?) that today I found my favorite decoration from childhood – the angel chimes.

For me, these were magical, they moved in a circle, they were musical, they contained lit candles, all the elements needed for Christmas beauty as far as I am concerned. And on Christmas Eve, we would light the candles of the angel chimes and the angels would spin around and around, much to my complete delight as a child. Another decoration connecting me to Christmases past. Maybe remembering is as much a part of the Advent journey as moving forward? Of course it is!

Our whole Christmas celebration is for the purpose of remembering the birth of Jesus while also being reminded that we are looking forward to His promised return. Advent is looking back and looking forward at the same time for the same Person for the same reason. He is our promised Deliverer, Savior, Redeemer, Healer, Rescuer, King, . . . the list could go on and on. Jesus is the answer to every prophesy, to every promise of God to His people, to every question I could ask, to every longing of my heart, Jesus is God’s answer. He was then, He is now and He will be forever.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

My angel chimes remind me of Christmases when I was a child. Today I am wondering if my own children remember the angel chimes from when they were young or if they are long forgotten? Different decorations bring different memories to mind. Maybe I liked the angel chimes because angels were such a part of the Christmas story. Angels are the ones who told Mary, then Joseph about Jesus and how His birth was going to happen. Then it was the angels who made the first official announcement of Jesus’s birth to the shepherds on that first Christmas night.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’ . . . Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.’ ” (Luke 2:8-14)

Angels have been God’s agents or messengers in the past, bringing good news to mankind as they did to the shepherds. That’s what Christmas is all about, after all – the good news that Christ has come at last! and more good news – that He is coming again! Must be why there are so many angel decorations at Christmas time – angels are the proclaimers of the good tidings of great joy. When we see them, we remember and we rejoice all over again.

Jesus has come! Jesus is coming again! let the angels of Advent share the news!

“Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious! Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cringe before You. All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You, they sing praise to Your name.’ Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man’s behalf!” (Psalm 66:1-5)

“Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:7-10)

sincerely, Grace Day