The Christmas Jugs

Every year at Christmas our town does this display.

Anyone can participate. Months in advance we save up old, clear milk jugs. Then on Christmas Eve we cut out one side and place sand, to hold them in place, and a candle inside. Usually my father, my sister, and I are responsible for cutting and placing the jugs. We line the edge of our yard and by the road, with the jugs. And if we have extra we line our driveway and up the road to the bridge that crosses the small dam of our lake.

Many of the houses in town and in the surrounding area participate. Just as darkness begins to fall we go out and light all the candles. It looks amazing.

As we take a drive around town to view the jugs I’m amazed at how the entire town comes together to make this spectacular display. Although every house that participates looks beautiful, my favorite display is that of a cross. It sits up on hill for everyone to see.

This year though, I know Christmas will be hard, for loss has struck my family and we’re still finding the strength to carry on. This Christmas as we sit at my grandmother’s house one will be missing and it will not only be this year, but all the years to come.

Seeing the jugs usually puts me in the Christmas spirit, and I hope that once again they will help, and if I could make a wish for everyone else, it would be that they could see these Christmas jugs, and feel the way I do when I see them. For no longer are they just old milk jugs with candles inside, they’re glorious examples of Jesus’ light that shines not only at Christmas time, but all year through.