Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone.

It’s the morning of December 20th, and I’ve finally found a quiet moment to sit down and write this newsletter.

As this Christmas season began, I told myself I would slow down, savor the holidays, watch plenty of Christmas movies with the kids, and relax more with my wife.

That didn’t quite happen.

Well… some of it did. Just not as much as I hoped.

Here I am again, five days before Christmas, asking myself the same question I seem to ask every year: Where did the Christmas season go?

This is your reminder—and mine—to slow down.

To savor the moment.

To enjoy the season while it’s still here.

I haven’t even watched all of my favorite Christmas shows yet.

So I’m going to cheat a little with this newsletter and share some traditional Christmas text that takes me straight back to my nostalgic past.

Please take a moment to read it with me. If you’re anything like me, it can be surprisingly hard to slow down long enough to read something that makes you feel good about the season.

Let’s do that together.

Clement Clarke Moore, 1823 — public domain

’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Then there is the classic reminder from Christmas is all about from Linus in "Charlie Browns Christmas."

“Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about,” said Linus.“Lights, please.”

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

When he is finished with that last line, Linus turns to the audience: “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

As we step into Christmas Eve, let this be a quiet reminder—not to do more, but to be more present.

The season always seems to move faster than we expect. The days fill up, the calendar crowds in, and before we know it, Christmas is almost here. But the meaning of this time was never meant to be rushed.

Take a breath. Sit with your family. Read the words that have endured for generations. Let them pull you back to what matters most—faith, family, gratitude, and peace.

If this season has felt hurried, you’re not alone. But there’s still time. Time to slow down. Time to savor the moment. Time to remember why this season matters.

Merry Christmas Eve.

May your home be filled with warmth, your heart with peace, and your time with the people who matter most.

The Day Warrior

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