It all began in October 2020. I was already feeling very Christmasy. So I just began searching ‘Christmas paintings’ and ‘snow paintings’ on Pinterest. Oh how a whole new world opened up! There were some breathtaking (and do-able) painting ideas.

The first was this –

And untill last night, I have ended up painting quite a few –

Meanwhile, my parents and my brother Abhishek were already in the mood to take some DIY projects for Christmas. We wanted to do most things by hand. These are some projects we did:

The brick-look-alike wall

Okay so our living room had a blood-red wall. It often affected the light in the room since it’s a very dark oil paint. We wanted to lighten it up a little. Plus I really wanted to have a corner in my house with some brick-alike look if not the actual brick look. This project has been due for almost three years now, Abhishek and I never found the time.

This time Abhishek was determined. So he created a stensil for the brick effect. Believe me, it’s easier said than done. The cardboard stensill fell off at the first touch of paint. So we bought a harder and robust cardboard.

Thus began the work one fine Sunday of December –

The first coat looked like this –

And then, we added a few things – like a matching TV table top. The two lights I had orginally bought for Abhishek’s office, he decided to ‘donate’ for the Great Cause of the Brick Wall. Two of my paintings found home too.

We finally had the look after nine hours of hard work and endless arguments –

The accurate Christmas star

My father – Vishwas – loves DIY projects in general. This Christmas, he dedicated himself to the great mission of the Christmas Star. His motivation was: most stars availaible in the market have only 5 cones and that’s incorrect according to the Bible. The star of David had six cones, so should a Christmas star be. So in a few hours, he created a six-coned Christmas star –

And after we hung it on our balcony, how incredibly gorgeous it looks –

Mom’s crochet bells

My mother Prerna is effectively responsible for all my creative genes. She crochets throughout the year, and especially during Christmas. She has made us sweaters, mufflers, cute hats in the past Christmases. This year, she decided to crochet bells and balls and Christmas wreath to hang on our Christmas tree.

Check it out –

Oh by the way, those are my happy parents during their 40th Wedding anniversary.

The quest for a white Christmas

Okay I am always dreaming of a white Christmas. That’s why those paintings. Another way to realize this dream was to do some experimenting with our living room. We already had white cotton floral curtains. And white floral cushion covers. But our sofa had to be transformed.

We also found a white Christmas tree. So this is the whitest our Christmas could get –

Our living room has been transformed for good –

Has Christmas come to a corner in your house?

I have been seeing pictures on social media feeds: Christmas trees, Rudolf hairbands, Christmas wreaths hanging on doors, red socks hung on fireplaces, snow paintings. Most of us do a great job at bringing Christmas to one, if not all corners of our homes.

It does make me happy. Christmas is for everyone. It is universal. And it is happy and joyous. And God knows how much we need this joy in 2020.

But here’s the deal. Has Christ – the person behind Christmas – found a corner, any corner in your heart? He deserves much more. He deserves your whole heart.

It’s funny how many stores in the US have changed from saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to just ‘Happy holidays’ while Christmas carols play in the background and a nativity showcasing baby Jesus sits on their display mirrors. They are trying their best to get ‘Christ’ out of Christmas, hence ‘X-Mas’.

This is what I really want to tell you, if you are still reading this. There won’t be an X-Mas without Christmas and there won’t be a Christmas without Christ. So why deny? Even Harry, Hermoine and Ron greeted each other ‘Happy Christmas’ in a world that seemed like they didn’t need any God.

Don’t miss the message of Christmas

Imagine, you get a Christmas gift beautifully wrapped in a shiny paper. You like the paper so much, that you carefully unwrap the gift, keep the paper and throw away the gift.

Odd, isn’t it? But this is what most of us are doing. We invite Christmas into corners of our homes, but throw away the actual gift of Christmas – Christ Himself! Yes, Jesus Christ Himself took the form of human and descended on to Earth. He came so He could live like us – humans – experience our struggles, pains, challenges, tempatations, misery and sorrows.

He took the punishment of our sins upon Himself by dying on the Cross. He rose again the third day so He conquered death. This is why He could and He can promise us an eternal life, because He has overcome death and the punishment of our sins.

Jesus has said, in the Bible –

I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:6] NIV

Who else do you know has said this? Most spiritual Gurus or prophets have ‘shown’ the path to salvation, but only Jesus has said He Himself is the way, the truth and the life.

Jesus, has also said –

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. [John 11: 25] NIV.

All you and I need to do is invite Jesus in our lives and hearts. There’s a life after this life, and Jesus can change the outcome of where and how you will live that eternal life. Choose Jesus this Christmas. Kneel down, ask for forgiveness, tell Him you want Him.

Merry Christmas you all!