So what Christmas song drives you crazy? It used to be “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and I still hate it. But this year a new song has gotten my attention. It is the “Marshmallow World” that plays in a commercial for Target. Haven’t heard it or just want to irritate the people around you? Go to: http://youtu.be/ifvRgJMfop4

Apparently I am not alone. Here are some comments that I found on the song:

• “The Target advertising music this year is manic, insane and I think I’m going to have a seizure if I heard that song again.”
• “Talk about noise pollution!”
• “The Target advertising song this year is driving me absolutely buggy! It is manic and crazy. I am in a panic to rush to the set to turn it off when those commercials come on! It’s by far the WORST Christmas music this year.”

OK, so maybe those folks need some professional help. (By the way, I “cleaned up” their comments.)

When I was in college, there was a great TV room in the basement of one of the men’s dorms. It was open to everyone and so was a wonderful place to hang out with friends. It was usually crowded and loud and fun. But, when the commercials for feminine hygiene commercials came on, the room was silent. Talk about awkward. I can only imagine how that place is with some of the commercials that are being aired today.

It would be nice if we could just delete the sounds that bother us. But, let’s reverse that. What if we could restore the sounds that delight us? Here are some sounds that I wish I could hear again:

• My Grandma Randlett’s greeting as she arrived at our house each Christmas. She would travel from Detroit each December and she always smelled so wonderful.
• The sound of Grandpa Mullins preaching and the sound of Grandma Mullins singing in the old church in Kentucky.
• The craziness as our family put together the “Christmas bags” for the church.
• Ed Dixon’s full out laughter when I said that my name could never be “Dr. Mullins-Stein.”
• My sister, Janice, her friend and me playing “I Wonder as I Wander” at the annual candlelight Christmas concert in Newton, Kansas.
• John’s greeting to me when we were reunited in Hong Kong after a five month separation.
• Pop Stein, with a twinkle in his eye, responding to the question “Would you like pie or cake for dessert?” with a hearty “YES!!!”
• Mom Stein ending every call with us by saying “Give each other a hug and a squeeze from us.”

It is easy to mute the TV and turn off the radio when the irritating sounds of the season come our way.

It is a little harder to recapture the lost sounds of our lives. But, you can do it!

Think and remember and reflect and hear in your heart the sounds of love and joy that are from Christmas’ past.

Remember and rejoice!!

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)