In the last few days, I’ve been having several conversations with people about how they are feeling about Christmas in this pandemic year. These conversations tend to go one of two ways: either the person I’m talking to feels absolutely no Christmas spirit and just wants the year to be over. Or, the person I’m talking to has found ways to enjoy simple things – christmas movies, zooming with friends, going for long walks, listening to the music of the season.

Today, I woke up to a light skiff of snow over the ground. When I took my dog out to do her business this morning, I saw that the kids who wait for their school bus in the little park across from my building had written their names in the snow:

It absolutely delighted me. Such a simple thing, but kids writing their names in the snow made me think of childhood and that wonderment that fresh snow brought. I love that the names are reflective of my city – some are anglicized names, but some are clearly other ethnicities. I love that I live in a city where people come from all over the world. I love that some of them wrote in all-caps and others in a mixture of capitals and lower case letters.

This year, simple joys are more crucial than ever. They may just be the thing that brings you into the Christmas Spirit. So I encourage you to find your own simple joys: a cup of peppermint hot chocolate, a conversation with a friend, a cuddle with your pets, a good song that you can crank up and sing along with.

Joys don’t have to be elaborate. Simple joys are still joys, still powerful, still meaningful. Still reflective of the heart of God.

Until tomorrow, dear friends, be full of joy in the Lord!