Christmas Eve

David, Marisa and I went to the 11pm candlelight service at our old church in Athens. It's the church that David and I were married in and is one of my favorites.

I have always loved candlelight services. Granny and Grandaddy took us grandkids to the one at the Presbyterian church downtown when we were little. Although we didn't quite understand the whole meaning, I still enjoyed them (even if it was just to drip hot wax on Marisa and Joy!).

Marisa came with us to relive the good ol' days, although we refrained from getting each other with the wax. The service was very nice and culminated with singing 'Silent Night' as the candles were lit and then the whole church, illuminated by hundreds of candles, sang 'Joy to the World'. It filled me with the Christmas spirit, not of presents and bows, but of the real reason we celebrate.

As we left the church, right at midnight, it was beginning to rain and the bells were ringing gloriously. I could have stood in the cleansing rain indefinitely, listening to the bells herald the arrival of Christmas day and Jesus Christ. Joy to the world, indeed.