Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Except not this year. Every year I get "home" with the joys of family life; food, wine, warmth, remoteness, only to find the tradition of every year is ruined by a 400 metre long queue at Morrison's. Now, tell me if I'm wrong, but that's not the best reason to miss shopping on Christmas Eve. My parents hadn't got any nuts. "No nutss..." Which meant my mum mentioning it in her sermon on Christmas Eve morning, and a lot of "sarcastic sympathy" from the church congregation.
Of course we have some now (only walnuts, not the usual selection) but it took them (the parents) over 6 days. Not acceptable. My standards remain high when I return to my parents house, so that they know I miss them. It's a healthy thing to do. No compliments of the food at lunch means "This is really good" and so on....if you were visiting it may be a little strange for you.
Now, why did I return? One reason. Christmas. The giving and receiving of gifts, filming silly films with my two brothers, catching up with friend(s), but why? Why is this time of year clothed with reunion? I think I have the answer. This holiday signifies (whether it is the actual date or not I neither know nor care) the birth of Jesus Christ. A fascinating character who became my sin so I could have a right relationship with my perfect heavenly father. Don't worry if that means nothing to you...reunion is my focus. When Jesus was born, He started something utterly magnificent, He did not come to live, but to die. Take punishment for everyone's rebellion against God, whom everyone knew regardless of if they are in denial or not. Why did Jesus do that? Forgiveness? Eternal life? I suppose yes to both. But the primary focus of His free gift to us was God. We can be reunited with our Father because Jesus has bridged the gap, fulfilled the requirements so that any of us who believes in Jesus death & resurrection and trusts in Him for forgiveness and salvation will be reconciled. It's a wonderful thing.
This Christmas, when you are reunited with the family, or wishing you were, think about a reunion that is the most important decision you will ever make. You can be reunited with the God you once knew by asking Jesus to take your sin on His shoulders and be put right with God. No prerequisites; you can do it right now.