The leaves are changing, the air is turning cooler, and the expectancy of the holiday season is upon us! My heart leaps when I think about the holidays! I still feel the same expectancy that I did when I was a child, eager for Christmas morning!
However, I have found myself a little anxious about the holidays this year because of the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, finding the right presents, scheduling family events, and already feeling behind in my normal holiday routine.
Recently, the Lord has been impressing on my heart a few things that have brought me a lot of peace and joy. Instead of the focus and attention being on what gift we are going to receive, the perfect gift we are going to buy, the menu for Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner, the schedule of who goes where, when, the endless parties to attend, and let’s not forget about teacher gifts…let’s look for the “new” in our traditions and the people we enjoy!
Many of us have the same traditions year after year. Looking back, as a child, some of the happiest memories I had were during this time of year. Instead of taking for granted the “process” and people we love this year, how about we notice and really “see” them? Look for the amazing qualities that we may have missed over the past year (or years). Let’s live our traditions out this year like it could be our last, really taking the time to enjoy the moments we get to spend with family and friends.
The years go by fast, and time is fleeting before us. Our children are getting older, our parents are getting older…our “normal” becomes just memories!
I don’t want to miss a thing this year! I don’t want to take one thing for granted. I want to go to every event with expectation in my heart for something new! I want to buy something for someone that brings meaning to their life.
The Lord has brought forth blessings overflowing in my life. This holiday season, I want to be grateful for every person, every gift, every smile, every endless side dish full of carbs, every Walmart line, every pile of leaves in my backyard, every cup of coffee filled with holiday creamer, and most of all Christ’s love and sacrifice for me!
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
This post was written by Amy Meek. To read more about her, click here.
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