Thursday, January 04, 2007

"Christ"mas

When I think of Christmas, although my head is filled with the debt and shopping stress it brings, my heart is filled with warmth for the family gathering, smiling faces, our ability to give to others, and most of all, God's gift to us [his Son].

On Christmas Eve, a wonderful skit was put on by the children of my church to remind us that we all have the ability to give to others whether it be by lending a hand, providing food to the hungry, or opening the door to our home even if for only warmth from the cold. Every year I stress about the money we have to spend for "substantial" gifts. However, I recieve more satisfaction and am humbled by Him when I give a gift through an act of kindness and not a materialistic one. Again though, I don't feel it is substantial enough for the person receiving it and don't want them to be disappointed. I realize I dwell too much on how others perceive me and what they think when in reality, I should be more focused on how I am perceived in God's eyes. Although it is a continual struggle for me to not worry about how I am being judged by those around me, I pray that I can teach my children that His perception on who we really are is all that really matters.

If Christmas took place on a more regular basis, I would more easily stay focused on what is most important in life...RECOGNIZING/PRAISING/SERVING HIM!