Merry Christmas to You!

I can hardly believe it, but tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I am looking forward to having a couple days away from the desk, to share the holiday with family and friends, who are my best and greatest gift. But, I leave you with a lovely excerpt from a poem by Sir Walter Scott, written in 1808, that I used for my Christmas card this year. It says a lot. The best part of Christmas is not the gifts, though we all like to have something under the tree with our name on it. The best of Christmas is Christ, and His coming to redeem us all. I send best wishes to you for Peace and Joy and the Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

And well our Christian sires of old
Loved when the year its course had roll'd,
And brought blithe Christmas back again,
With all its hospitable train.
Domestic and religious rite
Gave honour to the holy night.
On Christmas eve the bells were rung,
On Christmas-eve the mass was sung;
That only night in all the year
Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.
The damsel donn'd her Kirtle sheen;
The hall was dress'd with holly green;
Then open'd wide the baron's hall,
To vassal -- tenant -- serf and all:
Power laid his rod of rule aside,
And ceremony doff'd his pride.
All hail'd with uncontroll'd delight,
And general voice, the happy night,
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings of salvation down.