My thoughts summarized in one paragraph...

As the season passes, the holiday decorations will come down. Many will swear off chocolate, and many will be successful until Valentine's Day candy goes on sale. I will put my Christmas CDs in a box and put them in a cabinet to be left alone until next September. I will keep "O Come O Come Emmanuel" on the iPod for the moment. It has been my Christmas revelation, inspiration, and New Year's resolution.  Sadness, grief, suffering, and all sorts of misfortune come to us all regardless of status or wealth. We can all identify with the call, "ransom captive Israel." There are those of us who are blessed to also understand the call to "Rejoice". In spite of all manner of suffering, we have life more abundant than we can imagine. We have hope beyond present circumstances because Emmanuel has indeed come. I want to show more than ever before the Emmanuel that dwells in me to the world that is desperately seeking for Him. Happy New Year!