It really does help to be a kid at Christmas time. I don't have to make my kids excited about Christmas. I don't have to encourage kids at school to be joyous at Christmas time. In fact, I am usually trying to pull kids off the ceiling and reign them in. I look back on Christmas pictures and see how fast the kids are growing. This year I don't even have to go to Toys R Us but instead of that making me sad I should be joyful. The opposite of watching your kids grow is terrifying to me.
If I just look back on my year in review from my mobile uploads I smile. Last January we buried my Nana Kent and Marlee turned 8. We returned to Belize on a family mission trip and the kids were baptized. We came back home and played lots of ball. There were old friends. There was a new pastor at our church. There were tears. There were beach trips with friends, beach trips with family and lake trips with family. I went with my sister on another mission trip back to Belize. There were hugs. There were days spent in the pool. Joey and I celebrated 12 years of marriage. There were laughs. There was a lot of grass cut. I helped run over the biggest snake I have ever seen in my yard. Tyler turned 11 and enjoyed his first broken arm. The start of a new school year. We said goodye to Emily Skelding. Marlee played another season of soccer. We all made new friends. We had sickness and good health. Appointments. Boo boos. Dogs. Red Sox. Toilet paper wins and War Eagles.
So it's okay I never got the outside decorations put up for Christmas. We have been busy living. It's okay the ants covered my Christmas cards. It's okay I didn't get my kids new Christmas pajamas this year. It's okay we have had the stomach bug from Satan himself. It's okay my Chrismtas list isn't done. It's okay I can't wrap a present to save my life and I can't make things on Pinterest. It is not that "I am over it", it is that I am figuring it out. The Chrismtas message means more to me each year. Kids love Christmas because they feel loved and spoiled by grown ups in their world. This year look at Christmas through the eyes of a child. Think about the first time you heard the Christmas story. Think about the outrageous love of God that he would send His son to drown out your sin and pour his love into you.
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10, 11 ESV)
In Him,
Marsha
