The lovely and talented Jess and I have had a tough time getting into the holiday spirit this year. It’s not really that unusual for me (I’m kind of a natural-born Grinch), but Jess is usually pretty into it – always making me put up the tree and hang lights on the house.

This year however, we’ve decided to just forgo all that. The prevailing thought is that if we skip it this year, then we’ll miss it and really be into it next year. We’ll see.

But at any rate, Christmas isn’t about Griswalding the house, or the tree, or any of the paraphernalia. It’s about the birth of our Saviour, and the wonder of undeserved blessings – of which I have an abundance.

I’ve got the best and most beautiful wife in the world (sorry fellas, but that’s just the fact). I’ve got a few friends who see pretty much eye-to-eye with me on most things, and just as good, I’ve got a lot of friends who disagree with me on virtually everything, but still love me as much as I love them.

I’ve got so many friends who are so much more talented than I am at the things I love: writing, music, photography, but genuinely seem excited when I produce a new piece of writing.

I’ve got a great extended family, that loves me and accepts me for all my Uncle Buckness without the rejection that the actual Uncle Buck had to put up with (and that includes my awesome church family who take me for what I am, and love me despite myself).

I’ve been lucky that, even though my financial mistakes and fiascos are many and varied, none have been serious enough to keep me behind the 8 ball, and we’re able to live a pretty comfortable, low-key life.

My life is pretty short on want – I’ve got everything I need, and not enough of what I don’t need to weigh me down.

I’ve got kids who love me, even though they have every reason to hate my guts, and wonderful grandkids, and if we don’t see each other as often as we’d like, it’s not really anyone’s fault.

I’ve got a pack of unnecessarily over-enthusiastic dogs constantly trashing the house, getting underfoot, driving me crazy and reminding me of the rarity that is unconditional love.

I’ve got more books than I could ever read, a wide-ranging library of music, and a wife who doesn’t object to my constant, compulsive enlarging of both collections (told you she was the best).

I’ve also got you: the 19 or 20 people who take the time to read this blog – even when you disagree with me. I hope it’s worth the time.

Best of all, I’ve got a Saviour who loves me as I am – despite all my many weaknesses, shortcomings, and failures.

One of the things that occurred to me the other day at Church (and I realize I’m probably late to the party on this one) is that not only was Jesus born, lived life as a man, and died to pay the price for me that I could never pay for myself, and defeat death that I might live forever with him, he knew, even before he was born how it was all going to end.

To me that’s amazing. I mean I love my kids, but if I knew my kids were going to do to me what we were going to do/are still doing to him, I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t even think about it.

I might have gone along with the being born, living, and telling them how to get their shit together, but I’d have drawn the line waaaaaaaay short of allowing them to crucify me. That’s just nuts – or real love.

Talk about undeserved blessings.

Anyway, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thanks for reading.