{"id":1839,"date":"2012-12-20T03:33:01","date_gmt":"2012-12-20T01:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/?p=1839"},"modified":"2013-12-20T22:06:11","modified_gmt":"2013-12-20T20:06:11","slug":"where-does-that-christmas-feeling-come-from","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/where-does-that-christmas-feeling-come-from\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Does that Christmas Feeling Come From?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I write this as I am siting in front of a Christmas tree decorated with lights and shiny red and gold balls, out the window I can see snow softly\u00a0falling\u00a0and Christmas music is playing in the background. It all feels pretty Christmasy.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1859\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1859\" data-attachment-id=\"1859\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/where-does-that-christmas-feeling-come-from\/christmas-tree\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"640,360\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1355953796&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"christmas tree\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;What does your Christmas feeling come from?&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree.jpg\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1859\" alt=\"What does your Christmas feeling come from?\" src=\"http:\/\/69.89.31.195\/~sukofami\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree.jpg 640w, https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree-460x260.jpg 460w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1859\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Where does your Christmas feeling come from?<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But where does that feeling really come from? Should it be the lights and the tree that makes us feel like it&#8217;s Christmas?<\/p>\n<h4>The Christmas Feeling<\/h4>\n<blockquote><p>Would it feel like Christmas for you<\/p>\n<p>Without all the regular Christmas ado?<\/p>\n<p>No &#8220;Jingle bells&#8221; or\u00a0&#8220;deck the halls&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>No mistletoe or wreaths hanging the walls<\/p>\n<p>No gingerbread houses with candy roofs<\/p>\n<p>No flying sleighs or reindeer hooves<\/p>\n<p>No trees decked out with tinsel and light<\/p>\n<p>No stockings hung over the fire at night<\/p>\n<p>No festive sweaters made by Aunt Pam<\/p>\n<p>No eating of turkey and especially no ham<\/p>\n<p>No fat man with a white beard and black boots<\/p>\n<p>No little people with pointy ears and green suits<\/p>\n<p>No gizmos or gadgets to bring Christmas cheer<\/p>\n<p>No shopping malls filled with new Christmas gear.<\/p>\n<p>You see the first Christmas came without all the hype<\/p>\n<p>It was altogether a different type.<\/p>\n<p>It came simply in a quiet way<\/p>\n<p>To a poor couple on winter day.<\/p>\n<p>Surrounded by donkey&#8217;s and camels and sheep<\/p>\n<p>Two young parents watched their baby sleep.<\/p>\n<p>They knew he was special but just couldn&#8217;t see<\/p>\n<p>How this small child a king could be.<\/p>\n<p>The greatest miracle the world had known<\/p>\n<p>Took place in a stable and not on a throne.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus didn&#8217;t need stalking stuffers<\/p>\n<p>Or soft new flannel covers,<\/p>\n<p>That Christmasy feeling didn&#8217;t matter to him<\/p>\n<p>He had come to a world that was fearfully dim<\/p>\n<p>Losing its light at a threatening rate<\/p>\n<p>People were consumed by despair and hate.<\/p>\n<p>But now the Messiah had finally come to man<\/p>\n<p>The perfect solution in God&#8217;s master plan.<\/p>\n<p>He came to bring real life and light<\/p>\n<p>To heal the sick and give blind new sight.<\/p>\n<p>He came to suffer and die on a tree<\/p>\n<p>The ultimate sacrifice for you and me.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s why the Christmas feeling is not the important part<\/p>\n<p>To celebrate Christmas you need to have a right heart!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Question: What about you, where does your Christmas feeling come from?<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I write this as I am siting in front of a Christmas tree decorated with lights and shiny red and gold balls,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[31],"tags":[59,250],"class_list":["post-1839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing","tag-christmas","tag-poetry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/christmas-tree.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3izZc-tF","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":28420,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/the-secret-of-the-christmas-tree\/","url_meta":{"origin":1839,"position":0},"title":"The Secret of the Christmas Tree","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"January 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Abby, Dabby, and Labby woke early on Christmas morningQuietly, they tiptoed past their father\u2019s loud snoringIn the living room stood the Christmas tree, bright and tallBut what they saw was not the tree, oh, not at all! This silent green giant held a secret in its boughsYet the shining presents\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Writing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/604759098_10164453700629809_6074044429133929318_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/604759098_10164453700629809_6074044429133929318_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/604759098_10164453700629809_6074044429133929318_n.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/604759098_10164453700629809_6074044429133929318_n.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1665,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/benefits-of-celebrating-christmas-2-weeks-late\/","url_meta":{"origin":1839,"position":1},"title":"The Benefits of Celebrating Christmas 2 Weeks Late","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"January 7, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"If you already took your Christmas tree down then today would be a great day to grab it out of the trash and put it back where it belongs! Just because December 25th is now 2 weeks behind us doesn't mean that Christmas is over, especially if you're \u00a0from Ukraine.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ministry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/soldiers.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/soldiers.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/soldiers.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2023,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/why-we-celebrate-christmas-on-january-7th\/","url_meta":{"origin":1839,"position":2},"title":"Why We Celebrate Christmas on January 7th","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"January 8, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm still surprised by how many people don't know that December 25th is not Christmas in Ukraine! When I tell them that we celebrate on January 7th the usual response I get is, \"Oh,\u00a0so two weeks later?!\" Then I say, \"No, we celebrate 50 weeks earlier than the West!\" That's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Family&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/family\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/DSC02165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/DSC02165.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/DSC02165.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4820,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/merry-christmas-dear-friend\/","url_meta":{"origin":1839,"position":3},"title":"Merry Christmas Dear Friend","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"December 25, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Friend, I arose while it was still dark this Christmas morning, Made my way past the children who were still soundly\u00a0snoring, Sat down on the couch and looked at the tree. It was quiet and peaceful as far as I could see. But then I remembered the news of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Family&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/family\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/DSC01609.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/DSC01609.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/DSC01609.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1916,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/so-how-was-your-christmas\/","url_meta":{"origin":1839,"position":4},"title":"So How was Your Christmas?","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"December 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Christmas is over, at least in the West. The day after Christmas shouldn't be a downer. It should be just as joyful as the day before Christmas! The Messiah has come, he is here, our God is with us, Emmanuel! One thing we really like about living in Ukraine is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Family&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/family\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/DSC01796.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/DSC01796.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/DSC01796.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6116,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/merry-christmas-from-the-sukos-in-ukraine\/","url_meta":{"origin":1839,"position":5},"title":"Merry Christmas from the Sukos in Ukraine","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"December 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Christina and I want to wish you and your family a merry Christmas this year. May today be a true celebration of the birth of the Savior who came to live and die and save the lost. The truth of Christmas is why we are here in Ukraine! Thank you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ministry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Screen-Shot-2015-12-25-at-11.50.47-PM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Screen-Shot-2015-12-25-at-11.50.47-PM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Screen-Shot-2015-12-25-at-11.50.47-PM.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Screen-Shot-2015-12-25-at-11.50.47-PM.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Screen-Shot-2015-12-25-at-11.50.47-PM.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1839"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3531,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1839\/revisions\/3531"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}