To me, there is nothing more enjoyable at Christmas than reveling over the birth of Jesus, our Savior and King! It seems every year, something more profound reveals what was unnoticed to me before. It was a few years ago that Mary made center stage. It wasn’t so much as her being chosen or what she did but in what she said that caused me to look at Mary and life a bit more differently.
It is almost Christmas! All activities have come to completion for the year and I sit here this evening, pausing and reflecting on Christ’s birth. As I sit, I’m overcome with the urge to share the events before and leading to our Saviour’s birth. These words are not my own but those taken from The Holy Bible NIV version from Luke Chapters 1 and 2. Over the next few days, I hope you will join me as I share the ultimate Christmas story. So snuggle in and unwrap with me The Ultimate Gift and see Jesus’ story unfold to His birth!
“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. “
I was recently asked by a friend how I celebrated Christmas. The intent of the question was to get ideas on how to celebrate with less emphasis on presents and Santa and more on Jesus.
My immediate answer included practical advice like reading the story of Christ’s birth on Christmas Eve and attending church sponsored events with the family throughout the season. The truth is, I really hadn’t given it much thought in a long while.
I always look forward to the Christmas Season! It is truly the most wonderful time of the year! Each year as I read through the scriptures, the Lord never ceases to amaze me as He brings to light something new. What joy and excitement as a new understanding of Him unfolds before my eyes!
I began a study this week by Love God Greatly called, “God with Us“. Settling in under my warming blanket and the soft glow of the Christmas lights, I opened my Bible to a familiar but favorite verse, Isaiah 9:6-7. I have used this verse on many Christmas cards and spoken it many times over the years, however this time the word GIVEN took center stage.
I remember how excited I felt when I found out I was going to be a mom! I took bits and pieces I loved from those who spoke into my life and configured this model of perfect mom for my children. It wasn’t a bad model but more of a testament to those who spoke into my life, it just set me up to fail before I even became mom. I don’t know about you, but sometimes as a mom I become trapped in my past experiences.
It’s been a while since I’ve written anything. This season of life has come with much busyness to the many hats worn as mom and wife. The words and lessons come but as soon as I sit to type them, they are lost in the abyss of frazzled brain matter. That is until recently.
We have entered a new area of training with our older children. Driving!! I can feel my heart beat faster just by typing the word! Teaching them to drive has been…let’s just say….there is not a GPS to guide you through the anxiety, bumps, swerves, near misses, tears and yes, even those wide turns (overly wide turns… eh hem). Sometimes I cannot believe we arrive at our destination unscathed! I’ve always known what the handles on the ceiling of my car were for….really I did. With that being said, never in my mind did actually using them surface! That was until several months ago when one of those wide turns came without the aid of braking. I’ve never grabbed something so fast with all my might as though it could save me from the impending doom ahead. Needless to say, it has become my friend over the past few months. I just hope it will remain intact until my kids carry out the necessary training with responsible driver as their destination.
Sometimes in Mom Life we experience things with our children that are well….lets just say some days can reek to high heaven especially when in the public eye. I’ve had several instances as a mom when going to the store was like a box of chocolates. I didn’t know what behavior I was going to get; sweet, dreamy and smooth or dark and foul racing to the exit! While we experienced many good store runs its “the others” that caused people to follow us throughout the store, point fingers, and give us glares of shame and judgment. Then enters the crème de la crème that dreaded check-out line! It brings you front and center! There is no escape, you are there until the transaction is complete and your momma nerves in addition to your children come unwound like a spool of thread! What is it about the check-out line that drives kids of all ages to insanity?
Moms, you know that moment when someone comes to you and says or does something that either shocks you, makes you mad, or catches you so off guard that your emotions take over. The knee-jerk reaction we give in response is anything but wholesome and the raging emotions can set the par for the rest of your day or evening. My husband constantly tells me in the heat of the moment that I am drunk on my emotions and asks to discuss the situation later after I’ve had some time to think. Sometimes even him saying that makes me even hotter under the collar and I erupt like Mount Vesuvius leaving behind a lake of boiling lava in the aftermath of my emotional tirade. After I’ve had time to soak everything in, I’m remorseful and wish I had listened to his request.
Life Unfolded 