Christmas in the Friend home was truly a precious time. It was filled with family members playing a board game, watching Christmas movies, eating wonderful appetizers, laughter, and beautifully wrapped gifts. We napped, and we relaxed like no other time this year…together. Last night we ended our day with warm bowls of homemade potato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches…nothing fancy but we sat around the table together and I sighed. It was a long time getting to that moment. It has been a year of struggle for our family spiritually, financially, and emotionally. I don’t know what the New Year holds but I do know I won’t forget what peace and joy sounds like. It will be the very strength I will draw from. Thank you, Jesus for the best Christmas present ever…Hope.
How is your heart today? Where do you draw your strength?
This year I received some precious Christmas cards. They were filled with well wishes and many directed my attention to the real reason for the season. I loved them all but a few really grabbed my heart.
I have a friend raising her granddaughter by marriage. She has a grown son who is not too far from finishing college. Her days have been filled with giving and joy for many years and those same days were tempered with some self indulgent well deserved moments – naps, movies, shopping, and a non-descript schedule. These days she has become once again a lady of schedule, incredible responsibility, and discipline. Her step daughter’s child has come to live with her. She is a 7 year old child who has seen and experienced more than a young girl should know. My friend is working out the demands and responsibilities but she also has grown her heart into new dimensions. Her Christmas card had a poem enclosed that she wrote. I want to share a few lines here:
Like family, friends, and love ones, who make our lives enchanted I never really took the time to think of those less favored.
Young boys and girls who’ll never know a life that they can savor.
My biggest regret is that I believed that all children good or bad were loved by family members no matter what they had.
You know that term “unconditional love”, yeah I thought that, that just happened.-by KJ
Friends, let’s make “unconditional love” happen this New Year. Shine the light of the true source of this type of love. Make Him known by our generosity…of time.
Another card I received was from a dear friend who enclosed a personal note with a prayer request. Her son has been diagnosed with cancer. It was a note that tugged my heart and yet blessed me. Her family is sending for her. She has not been able to go see her son for at least 4 years now. It will be a bittersweet reunion but it will be a blessed time for my friend. Her faith and the given opportunity to share hope will see her through this difficult time. I am honored to share this burden in prayer.
Christmas is a wonderful, joyous time for so many, but then we all know people who are hurting, and have heavy hearts as well. I am thinking of two young women who visited their mom’s grave on Christmas Eve…the anniversary of her death. It should be our pleasure to pick up the phone this year, send a note, and/or give a hug to offer “hope” in the name of Jesus, but not too show pity but provide a smile and help them to focus on the presence and opportunity for peace of heart.
Another card I received was quite pretty with all the beautiful scripture and right words about the season. It was then simply signed and noted “We miss you.” It felt good to read those words and feel the love. It was from a precious woman in our old neighborhood where we bought our first home. Do you believe it when a person says they miss you? I believed what I read from this woman. But what do we do about it when someone says they miss you? You go see them! I want my New Year to be filled with reaching out to the many people “I miss” and “Miss me.”
When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently. You will start living in the light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task, and circumstance. Suddenly, many activities, goals, and even problems that seemed so important will appear trivial, petty, and unworthy of your attention. The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears. -- P. 37 from The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren.
Click on the blog title for a beautiful song to end this Christmas season and to start our New Year. It is a little entertaining as well. The rendition with Andrea Bocelli is even more beautiful but this video has the best quality sound. Josh Groban is very talented as well.
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