A flood of orange light splashes on the red Adirondack chairs surrounding the fire pit behind my Texas ranch house, making them glow orange-red. The bright green grasses are also glowing in orange.
Sitting on the red cushions of my creaking old wicker couch, the warmth of the sun rapidly removes the cool from the overnight air, making for a perfect short-sleeves-and-shorts day in the middle of winter. On days like this, I still love Austin — but when the cold comes, I fully intend to escape to get closer to the equator. Yes, I’ll admit I’m becoming a snowbird, running as fast as possible from the cold, which I no longer care to endure — though I’ll put up with it until the holiday passes. It feels more like Christmas when it’s cold or snowing. But after Christmas, I’m ready for the tropics.
Celebrating Together
Today, all the kids are back home, college breaks have started, and I’ll proudly sit in the congregation at church singing Christmas carols with my kids at my side. I live for moments like this.
Christmas Cards
When I was a kid, we were all encouraged to sign a stack of family Christmas cards. I’d write “Merry Xmas” and sign my name, until my mom saw it and said, “We don’t ever want to X out Christ from Christmas.” Whenever she abbreviated it, she would write “Merry C-Mas.” I still do this today, though I’ve long given up on sending Christmas cards. I still love receiving them, and I especially love reading people’s Christmas letters. As hokey as they can be, you can’t get every detail from Facebook, and they somehow give me that Christmas feeling..
The Great Tree Debate
Right after Thanksgiving, we went out and got a tree. Every year there is a debate about whether it’s time to get a fake one. After all, real trees are more work — watering them, and sweeping up when the needles fall, plus later we have to drag it out and put it by the road for pickup. It doesn’t seem very environmentally responsible, either. But when we tried to sell the concept again this year, the kids reminded us that the trees “are grown to be cut down, and they then turn them into mulch. It’s ecologically sound.” So once again, we resisted plastic needles.
Creating Cherished Memories
I could have insisted on a fake tree, but part of Christmas is about making memories for the family so they can cherish Christmases past. Traditions are important. Christmas ornaments the kids have put up over the years, and ones from our early marriage and our own childhoods, always go on the tree. The box of ornaments is really a memory stimulator. I wish I had my parents’ ornament boxes — they would be filled with treasures and memories.
Danger! Daddy on a Ladder
The day after Thanksgiving, I got up on a ladder, hung the Christmas lights around the eaves of the house, and put the decorations out front. Though the kids have not acknowledged it, it’s expected and part of what we do at Christmas. Our traditions include a tacky plastic angel with fiber optic wings that my mother gave to the kids. The other tacky thing is my favorite singing lamppost — it sounded like Bing Crosby. (It used to sing carols, but that part no longer works.) We also put out the tinfoil 1960s Christmas tree from our early marriage. We have three nutcrackers and stockings by the fireplace; when I decided to put the nutcracker statues in a different place, I was reminded, “They don’t go there, they go here.”
The Order of Decorations
Nothing can be out of place. A ceramic nativity scene made by my wife’s grandmother goes by the front door every year. The Christmas village goes on top of the grand piano. The dining table is decorated exactly as it has been the last 20 years, and once in a while we’ll add something new, trying to start a new tradition. We often hang stockings for dearly departed dogs, too, but there were too many stockings to put them all out this year.
Do you have favorite decorations from your childhood? Mine was a little white plastic church music box that would play “Silent Night” as the doors opened. I think one of my cousins ended up with this treasure.
New Traditions
Recently, when I was offering marriage advice, I mentioned that families carry their family culture with them at Christmas, and it’s important to honor your mate’s traditions that differ from your own. But I failed to mention that it’s also critical to create your own family traditions that will live on through your kids.
What family traditions have you created?
Speaking from the Stairs
On Christmas morning, before we open our gifts, the kids take turns reading Luke 2 through 20, the story of Christmas, just like I had to do while sitting on the old oak stairs at my grandparents’ house on West Wildwood Street back in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I used to hate it, because I was eager to open presents, but then it became tradition, and I’ve done it my entire life. My kids too used to hate it because, like me, they wanted to open presents, but it was a great reminder to put God first in our lives. We even have a seat at the dining table for Jesus. We put out a plate and everything (He doesn’t eat much).
Christmas Is a Story of Faith
On occasion, if I mention anything about my faith, someone will reach out and ask me to stop doing it and suggest that I will lose them as a reader. My intent is never to offend, and I’m not trying to change anyone. I want to be respectful of everyone. I usually respond by simply saying, “This is who I am, I mean no harm to you or others. I respect you, I hope you’ll respect me.” I even say “Merry Christmas.”
In 1 Peter (ERV) it says, “You may suffer for doing right … don’t be afraid of the people who make you suffer; don’t be worried, but keep Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have, but answer them in a gentle way with respect … then people will see the good way you live as followers of Christ, and those who say bad things about you will be ashamed of what they said. It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong.“
What I Want for Christmas
When asked what I want for Christmas, I cannot think of a single thing. And rather than buying me something, I’d rather everyone spend that money on someone who needs something. A kid who needs a toy or a sweater, a mom who needs groceries, a dad who needs a little help. This is a time when many people need more than they have. Rather than spending excessive amounts on things we don’t need, let’s spend excessive amounts to make Christmas special for someone else.
The Gift of Self-Esteem
I was talking to a homeless man one day who had been on the streets for over 12 years. He was shocked that I talked to him, because most people turn their eyes away. He said something I’ll never forget. “I’m here by choice, because I made bad choices. But it’s not just money or food I want. If you can’t or don’t want to give, I don’t expect you to do it, but don’t look away. It does me a world of good when someone looks me in the eye, gives me a smile and a wave. People forget that we need human connections too. You’ll smile at a stranger walking down the street, but you won’t smile at someone who looks different, is in rough clothes, or is dirty. We need that smile more than you know.”
That Christmas Feeling
There is a spirit about Christmas. Things slow for many of us, and as we get closer to the day, we start thinking about the people we love and care about, and it makes us gentler and kinder. But there are others who don’t see that, who might be unloved and needing to feel the Christmas spirit. And for those of us who give only at Christmas, don’t forget that others need that spirit year round.
I hope tomorrow is the most special Christmas ever. Embrace those you love, remind everyone about those who can’t be with you, and pay tribute to the value of family, no matter how insane they may be. The bond of family is deeper than any other.
Eric Rhoads
PS: This message is spread worldwide to over 90 countries and hundreds of thousands of people. I’m honored that you open your e-mail every Sunday and thankful for all of you who forward messages to friends and family.
Only a tiny fraction of you live near me in Austin, Texas, but we’ll be at one of five services today (probably the 11 a.m.) at Austin Ridge, our home church. We hope to see you there. You can find it online at www.AustinRidge.org.
What a great remembering of what is important. I especially love your Self Esteem section. I try to do this but I don’t do it intentionally enough! Thank you.
I added a new, yet temporary tradition to our Christmas as my three sons were getting married and leaving the nest. When their fiancé’s had their bridal showers, I culled out all the ornaments I had given them each year (with their initial & date), put them all wrapped in a red flat box and gave them as one of the shower gifts from us to start their marriage. Yes, some moms at the shower said they couldn’t ever part with their kid’s ornaments and that’s ok. Each son came to me later and said that their first few trees would have been bare without them and it brought such joy to see their ornaments hanging on their tree- especially as their own kids came along.
What memories Christmas brings! Blessings to your family.
Kelly Sooter
Eric, I am glad you can speak so openly and freely about your relationship with Jesus Christ. Why should we be intimidated by those who disagree with us about Him? Your quotation from the apostle Peter is right on. That is to always be ready to give an answer for our faith and the hope we have in Jesus our Lord. Bless you during this season of remembering His birth!
Thank you, Eric, realy glad you put this on and glad you are writing these letters again-I really enjoy them. Christmas is about love…Jan T.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your faith with us. May God continue to bless you and your family. I look forward to your blog, Coffee with Eric. Thanks for sharing the link to your home church, Austin Ridge Bible Church. I was blessed by the Christmas eve service.
You and Sunday Coffee are my Sunday high-Lites. I copy off ones that my grandkids need to hear. It cost me $10.00 to send the ones I has waiting to send. Some of the best advice I could give them. Thanks for being you.
Thank you for your what you wrote , great memories, spirit of Christmas , our Savior being born for our salvation!!
Not everybody like this, but real Christians , who were saved by HIM!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!!
Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas Eric! I am so thankful for you and all that you have done to help us learn more about painting at home through videos! You have touched so many lives around the world by offering this gift! Most of all I am thankful that you share your beliefs without fear in a world where it isn’t always popular. It is clear that your faith in Jesus Christ is real because you reach out and love people every day no matter what their faith or belief or race is. This is truly the unconditional love that Jesus was born to bring us! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for just being you! I hope your Christmas is blessed with your family and friends! God bless you Eric and Merry Christmas! Gratefully in Christ , Julie White
Merry Christmas 🎄 ~
Merry Christmas Eric and to the team you have around you..I spend quite a bit of time with you throughout the year and I will also see you throughout the new year coming up..Stay healthy and stay off the ladder trying to take down Christmas lights.
Wonder Christmas message and thank you for lovely Christmas wishes phone message – always a positive feeling doing anything with you and your companies!
Thank you for sharing your bit of Christmas. As time has gone on it seems a lot of people have lost the true reason of why we celebrate. It is a very timely reminder for all of us of why this day is so special. May God Bless you and your family on this Christmas 2023. I have often thought that the special gift we have been given as artists is to share the message of love through the beauty we paint.
Merry Christmas Eric. I don’t read every Sunday’s message but I read this one and I have to say I’m glad you share who you are and glad to hear that Christmas isn’t just about the commercial secular. I will see you on Watercolor Live for my third time.
Merry Christmas Eric! May you and your family have a wonderful blessed time together creating more memories! Thank you for always sharing your faith and reminding me not to look away, everyone needs love.❤️
Thank you so much for your Sunday letters. Your message is always inspirational. Your sharing, gently, of your faith is also wonderful. Thank you for sharing. Yes, I do paint….soporatically, and really love your descriptions of you home and the porch and the leaves , wind, mountains……colours!
I treasure every letter. Thank you. Merry Christmas! 🎄🥰
Thank you for this warm and inspiring post. Although I left a post to you on the General Chat I need to say something else. Beginning last night and continuing to this morning , Cindy Brader and I have developed a friendship. I was thinking…what a fluke, that she happened to make a post on this international watercolor event site, and I happened to see it…and we each found this artist with so much in common…WC Live being one of those things…..and we probably live around 60 miles apart in the prairie part of Nebraska. Then I read your Morning Coffee this morning and realize we aren’t dealing with a fluke….we are dealing with what was “intended to happen”. What was meant to be. I want to tell you about this thing that has happened and tell you I am so thankful to have this opportunity to experience art through a “difference maker” like you…..I am so blessed❣️
Thank you for your weekly stories. Just a note of clarification that X is the Greek letter chi that starts the name of Christ. It was an ancient early abbreviation for Christ so Xmas is correct as a short way to say Christmas. X was often used together with P which is the letter rho. Some suppose that Xmas was a modern way to take Christ out of Christmas but it dates back to Roman times and used by early Christians. One of the best examples is the Chi Rho page in the Book of Kells.
Very nicely said, Eric. I was very encouraged to know what matters most to you as I have followed your writings and classes for the past year. Your love of art and beauty and the inspiration you bring to “keep at it” seemed to be more than just business promotion. Your enthusiatic love of life and people, seemed unusual in a worldly sense and my curiosity about what drives you has been a question in my mind for a while. I choked up while reading your blog today because the deepest part of my soul was relieved and overjoyed to know that you are a man of faith. As artists, acknowledging that our purpose and passions to create as a form of worship are indeed God-given and secondary only to our primary purpose: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. So much of art has devolved into self expression for vanity or the hollow praise of man and most miss that van Gogh was humbly worshipping the Almighty through his chosen subjects, brushstrokes and colors.
I have been an amateur artist all my life and used to watch my Father paint and knew that some people have the deep desire to create and understand the complex emotions for art, and some don’t, as I saw my brothers didn’t. C.S. Lewis wrote a sermon called, “The Weight of Glory” which talks through man’s pursuit to capture nostalgia, beauty, experiences, tastes and sounds and all the deep sensations we as humans bump into throughout life. Most are impossible to hold onto or recreate, however we may try. In our elaborate schemes to try and create heaven on earth, C.S. Lewis contends it is proof that we were created for heavenly sensations and our deep desire is to hold on to them and enjoy them, forever. Those that bend a knee to our Creator get a profound sense of enjoying and celebrating what has been given us through creation and gives us hope to that all the brokenness and pain we see in this hurting world will someday be made new. His great, great joy and peace to you and your family this Christmas. Bruce
Happy Christmas to you and your family. I live in Eskdalemuir in Scotland and follow all the good art advice you make available. All my latest work has improved a lot and have had a good exhibition recently, so thank you.
Dear Eric,
I really love these Sunday letters. It’s nice that you express your faith and family. I’ve been painting in watercolor since ‘85. I do some paintings in oils or acrylics as well.. Loved your Plein air classes. I teach locally. I probably have done 50 workshops and always continue to learn and inspire others on a smaller scale that you do. Thanks for all you do.
Merry Christmas!
Nancy Schulte
I’ll send my Christmas letter in email.
Wishes for a Blessed Christmas for you and your Family.
Right on! Merry Christmas 😘
Beautifully written Eric. Thank you for sharing. I loved the message about the homeless man. We all make choices in our lives, some good and some not so much. Thankfully God sent His Son on that Christmas morn long, long ago to later walk the road to Calvary – to the cross He carried on which he was hung and died on for our sin, for those wrong choices we made and continue to make. Thanks be to God! Merry Christmas to all!! Sharon
I’m so glad to know you and what matters to you. We share a common bond with God through Jesus. May the light of Christmas keeps shining brightly boldly through you into our dark world. I always look forward to Sunday Coffee with you. Keep shining!
Beautiful message Eric! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Words from the heart about the only living truth man has is refreshing Eric. Thank you for letting the secular world overtake your faith.
Our art is a God given talent and many forget that as if it was theirs alone…
May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you and your family with a supernatural year of success!
Thank you so much for your beautiful Christmas letter. You covered so many areas that are upmost importance to this Christmas season. I would be surprised if anyone could object. It’s like you gently remind them that Christmas has Christ embedded into it and it is just their choice to ignore that.
Christmas blessings to you and your family.
I am 67 and have been raised with many of the same values and beliefs Eric. My mom saying the same thing about using X-Mas even.
This year having lost both parents and one of my 3 brothers I set out to do for others from being a part time driver that transports the elderly and disabled to doctor appointments as well as to do a bit of shopping up here in NH. It is much easier and more rewarding than my job as a female owner-operator for 35 years and so needed as our baby boomers age and I try to stay healthy so I can still remain in the driver’s seat.
I watched your sessions during Covid and enjoyed them and though I will probably never attend one of your promotions it doesn’t mean that I would not love to.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and if you think TX gets cold try New England! lol
Eunice
Hi Eric, I appreciate the link to your church. Praise the Lord for God-centred, Biblically-based churches! Thank you for your witness.
Merry Christmas! Health to you and your loved ones! :):);)