The cadence of Christmas

We all have Christmas traditions and rituals. At this time of year we dig out the carol sheets or dust off the Christmas vinyl. We contact people we haven't been in touch with for the past twelve months. We replace all the blown bulbs then hang up our Christmas lights. An old friend of mine used to read Dickens' Christmas Carol every year. All good things to do, but we must not let familiarity dull the splendour of Christmas. My great concern is that we might lose the wonder of Christmas because of its regularity. I feel this particularly as I listen once again this year to the remarkable lyrics of some Christmas carols. Wesley springs to mind: Pleased as Man with man to dwell / God with us Immanuel. Also The holly bears a berry as red as any blood / And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good. Timeworn words for Christmas, but they express timeless truths for Christians.