I have to come clean and tell you that Christmas has not always been this enjoyable for me. I fell into all of the same traps that a lot of other people traditionally do. Too much baking, shopping, cleaning, partying, planning, etc. etc. etc. But for some reason, this year I have let it all roll off my back. I think that it has something to do with a friend of ours who is battling bone cancer. He has been having trouble with his ankle for quite some time and finally had had enough. So, this fall he had it checked out only to find out it was a rare form of bone cancer. The following week he had his foot amputated. In the following weeks he had a chemo port inserted, got a prosthetic leg, and started chemo. Through all of this, he has continued to be an amazing family man, and doctor. His attitude has been phenomenal and his family is doing so well--I can only imagine due to his and his wife's way of handling all of this. The thing that topped it off for me? We went caroling at the same hospital he was having his first round of chemo in. We stopped in the hallway near his room to carol. When we looked up, he was standing in the doorway on his 1 day old prosthetic let, hooked up to chemo singing with us! He was in the middle of all of that junk, yet he sang with us. It brought tears to my eyes, actually I kind of cried like a baby.
I realized, what in the heck do I have to be stressed about? I have my health, my family, a roof over my head, a couple presents under the tree, and food in my cupboards. Everything else is gravy. My hope for you all this holiday season is that you seize the moment. Enjoy where you are right now, you never know where you will be next Christmas. Your kids will never be this age again--take pictures, slow down, spend time with them. It's OK if your house is not pristine, if you have to skip a party, if you don't serve gourmet foods. Christmas is still going to happen--with or without all of that. And really, do you think that baby Jesus could care a bit about any of that?
Here is something a friend had posted on facebook. Enjoy and have a blessed Christmas!
I Corinthians 13 (Christmas Version)
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
Strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
But do not show love to my family,
I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen,
Baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
Preparing gourmet meals
And arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime
But do not show love to my family,
I’m just another cook.
If I work at a soup kitchen
Carol in the nursing home,
And give all that I have to charity;
But do not show love to my family,
It profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels
And crocheted snowflakes,
Attend a myriad of holiday parties
And sing in the choir’s cantata
But do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love does not envy another’s home
That has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,
But is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return; but
Rejoices in giving to those who cannot.
Love bears all things,
Believes in all things,
Hopes all things, and
Endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break,
Pearl necklaces will be lost,
Golf clubs will rust;
But giving the gift of love will endure.
Author Unknown
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