By Ann Farabee

Admittedly, I am sometimes a bit Scrooge-like when it comes to Christmas events. But something about having a one- and a two-year-old in the mix mellows me a bit.

Out of nowhere came the idea from someone in the house, “Let’s go to downtown Kannapolis and see the lights!” It was from my son and his family, which includes the one- and two-year-old. Had it not been for them, my response may have been a no, because it was time to watch “Gunsmoke.” The deciding factor was that even at 7 p.m., the temperature was 60 degrees, so I knew I could handle it.

My memories of seeing Christmas lights go way back to when I was a child and my parents, brother, sister and I would ride around in the car looking for decorated houses. When we saw one, we would all roll our windows down, so we could see them a little better. (I assume everyone knows the meaning of “roll” your windows down.)

It seems that the older I get, perhaps I have already seen the Christmas lights annually, but I know the truth. I need to see them every year through the eyes of my children and my grandchildren, as many years as they will allow me to do so..

Here is how it went:

One of the babies was in his Christmas pajamas. The other one was dressed in an Elf costume. I was dressed warmly, as a grandma should be.

But the story was about the lights! Our parking spot was not especially close, so as we walked, our little ones saw the lights grow brighter and brighter. So did the rest of the family.

Have you ever noticed the twinkle in the eyes of a child looking at Christmas lights?

The younger one ran toward them with no filter at all in his mind, and tried to grab and feel each light within his reach. That was when I saw the lights sparkling in his eyes. That sure can give a grown up a renewed love for the joy of Christmas.

Yes, children brighten Christmas, but the brightest light of Christmas is the Light of the World, Jesus, who was born in a manger, and visited by wise men, who saw the star.

Matthew 2:1-2 tells us that the wise men saw the star in the east and came to worship Jesus.

They saw the lights. What an incredible experience. It is an experience that we can have ourselves — the experience of worshiping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The wise men had been looking for Jesus. They found Him and worshiped Him.

May I never take the opportunity to worship Jesus for granted.

May I never fail to worship because I do not feel like it.

May I never fail to worship for any reason.

My God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever (that is us) believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus, thank you for coming to Earth as a as a child, so that You could live among us and die for us, so that we could be saved and be in heaven with You one day. We could never understand Your amazing love.

Lord, may we see and experience the Light of the World this Christmas season.

Thank You for the gift of Your Son, through which we can receive eternal life!

Ann Farabee is a teacher, writer and speaker. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com.