Christmas is around the corner and with the excitement of Christmas comes concerns of our well-being over the holiday. How will we cope? How will we celebrate? What will it be like? Will we feel up to even going anywhere? Will we want to be with the rest of our family?
I absolutely love Christmas. I always have. It stirs a cozy and quaint feeling within me. Last year, for the first time, we got a real tree and decorated it in the most beautiful blue, white and silver decorations with only white lights. Growing up I loved the over the top tree—red, green and white lights that flashed along with the music, and every decoration of every sort that we could get our hands on and that is what we always had. Last year, we decided that we would start a new tradition. We would have a real tree, decorated in similar items with white twinkling lights and a new ornament that would celebrate our family every year so that our children could see all of the family history throughout the years when it was time to place the tree up. So, last year our new ornaments included a silver spoon with a blue ribbon that had Baby’s 1st Christmas engraved on it and a “First Christmas in Our New Home” ornament.
So this year, the day after Thanksgiving and sticking with tradition, we went and got a tree and got it put up and decorated with the help of many people—my dad, husband, niece and James. But we got it accomplished and up on the tree rests that spoon and little house. It was hard to decorate at first. Last year I was 38 weeks pregnant decorating and expecting the birth of our sweet boy. This year, I was pregnant again and missing my sweet Gideon. After pulling out the spoon, I had to take a break and pray and talk a little while with Jesus. He gave me much peace and rest as I remembered why I love Christmas so much.
I love the joy of the season. I love the giving of gifts and the look of appreciation from those receiving. I love the way the air changes and everything just smells better. I love gathering with my family and running from one place to the next to be sure that we see everyone. I love the yummy food and all of the leftovers. I love all of the decorated trees and all of the light displays. Every year we go to the “Celebrate with Family” program at Church on the Move and I love their production. But more than the great music, the lights and the comedy that they seem to make better every year, I simply love the story of Christmas--which from year to year, never changes. I love the way Willie George tells about the birth of Christ. I LOVE CHRIST. This is what Christmas is about.
Every Christmas I fall more and more in love with Jesus and am thankful for all that he did to save me. Last year, I was thankful that He had come and that we could gather as a family with our barely 2 week old baby. God gave me this joy. He helps me find joy in all of these things that he created—all of the loves that I mentioned above. Last year, it really hit that without Him, I would not have all that I have and I would not have been blessed with our baby. I reflected on the offering that our God had to make and was thankful that I was not the one in His place.
So this year as I sat and talked to Jesus for a while, while taking a break from my emotions running over and completely clouding my joy, He reassured me that He is still the God that I loved. He is still the same as He was last year. And He reminded me that Christmas is all about Him. Everything else that we get is just a “kicker”. Freely, I told him that I wasn’t sure how I would handle Gideon’s birthday which I was assured that He would help me through but Christmas was still Christmas.
So this year, while I will miss seeing the baby that was passed from one family member to the next on Christmas day, I will find peace once again in my Savior. I will fall even more and more in love with Him once again. This year, I will hold tight to His birth even more. Without Jesus coming, without God sending His son to die, I would not have the promise that I will again be able to see my baby in Heaven. Thank you, Jesus. I will love you and celebrate you like I have every year in the past and I will not let Satan steal my joy.
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| Lance and Gideon in front of our first family tree. |
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