Christmas. It evokes the same feelings in most everyone.
It reminds those of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus that it is indeed His birthday (and it is our earthly Daddy's b-day also)! We are reminded of the hope, the sacrifice and the joy that goes along with the birth of our Savior. It is a time to rejoice in the best gift ever given to all of us. I love that...we all share the same gift....we are all equal.
For many of us it also reminds us of the added, fun and extra part of Christmas - Santa Claus. Growing up we always had Santa at our house. We knew the reason for Christmas was Jesus, and Santa was just a nice fat man who kept us on our toes all year. I loved Santa and the mystery of him. I still believe in some ways. It is most fun that way.
For all of us it reminds us of gifts. Some of us give big, some of us give little, some of us give all we have and some of us are greedy with what we give. Yet, we all give. We grew up in a house that gave what was reasonable and what would make the other person's face light up with joy on Christmas morning. We still give like that, and I love that the most. We didn't base our love on the price tag, or vice versa...the gift was only a token, and always a nice one.
For everyone, it reminds us of food...and usually lots of it. homemade goodies galore and big meals are abundant. We all have our favorite thing. Mama and Julie love the oyster stew, Sarah and I love the garlic cheese grits, Randall loves the white almond covered tins full of goodies, The fab four love the sausage balls, Daddy loves the boiled custard, Stephen loves the divinity, and my mother-in-law loves the egg nog. We all have our favorites and they all make our pants fit a bit more snug by the year's end.
Love. Sadly, this is not the same for all of us and of all things listed, this should be the same for all. Everyone should feel loved this time of year. Jesus was born to show us real, true love...all of us. Rich, poor, nice, mean, smart or dumb. We are all loved. We all see those people who look lonely, sad or bitter. They are desperate for love. They need to feel the love of the Savior. Whether it is neighbor, a co-worker, friend, family member or sales clerk at Walmart - Show love...on your face, in your actions and with what you say. I need to hear this as much as the next person. It has been convicting me the last few days and I thought if it is convicting any of you, you might like to know you are not alone. It is so easy to love and it is sad that we make it so hard. Love is what Christmas is all about! Instead of making Christmas the stress it has become, let's strive to make it a blessing in the coming days. Be a Christmas blessing to someone else.
It reminds those of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus that it is indeed His birthday (and it is our earthly Daddy's b-day also)! We are reminded of the hope, the sacrifice and the joy that goes along with the birth of our Savior. It is a time to rejoice in the best gift ever given to all of us. I love that...we all share the same gift....we are all equal.
For many of us it also reminds us of the added, fun and extra part of Christmas - Santa Claus. Growing up we always had Santa at our house. We knew the reason for Christmas was Jesus, and Santa was just a nice fat man who kept us on our toes all year. I loved Santa and the mystery of him. I still believe in some ways. It is most fun that way.
For all of us it reminds us of gifts. Some of us give big, some of us give little, some of us give all we have and some of us are greedy with what we give. Yet, we all give. We grew up in a house that gave what was reasonable and what would make the other person's face light up with joy on Christmas morning. We still give like that, and I love that the most. We didn't base our love on the price tag, or vice versa...the gift was only a token, and always a nice one.
For everyone, it reminds us of food...and usually lots of it. homemade goodies galore and big meals are abundant. We all have our favorite thing. Mama and Julie love the oyster stew, Sarah and I love the garlic cheese grits, Randall loves the white almond covered tins full of goodies, The fab four love the sausage balls, Daddy loves the boiled custard, Stephen loves the divinity, and my mother-in-law loves the egg nog. We all have our favorites and they all make our pants fit a bit more snug by the year's end.
Love. Sadly, this is not the same for all of us and of all things listed, this should be the same for all. Everyone should feel loved this time of year. Jesus was born to show us real, true love...all of us. Rich, poor, nice, mean, smart or dumb. We are all loved. We all see those people who look lonely, sad or bitter. They are desperate for love. They need to feel the love of the Savior. Whether it is neighbor, a co-worker, friend, family member or sales clerk at Walmart - Show love...on your face, in your actions and with what you say. I need to hear this as much as the next person. It has been convicting me the last few days and I thought if it is convicting any of you, you might like to know you are not alone. It is so easy to love and it is sad that we make it so hard. Love is what Christmas is all about! Instead of making Christmas the stress it has become, let's strive to make it a blessing in the coming days. Be a Christmas blessing to someone else.
Abby
Comments
Diana
I AM WELL PLEASED WITH YOU.I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING CHRISTMAS WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES THIS COMING WEEKEND.
ALL THE LOVE I HAVE TO YOU BOTH,
DADDY