Christmas

It is Christmas Eve, which means there are some people going to the mall getting their last minute gifts, cookies are getting baked for Santa, hams and turkeys are getting thawed all for tomorrow.  While I will be doing a few of these things today I want to write about tonight and tomorrow.  We have been blessed to go our friends the Murray’s for the last (well it has been many years) years for Christmas Eve.  We have homemade pizza, salad, and all sorts of treats.  We watch A Christmas Story, and all laugh when we hear the line, “I triple dog dare you.”  Christmas Eve at Mike and Kathy’s is a special night.  That night we are part of their family.  It is one of my favorite parts of Christmas.  

Today while you are getting your last minute stuff done, I hope you have time to think about the real meaning of Christmas.  Can you imagine what it was like for Mary to get a visit from an angel saying that she was going to give birth to the Son of God?  She was Handmaiden of the Lord.  Wow, what a responsibility she was given, all mothers are given children of God, but this was the Son of God.  I do not want to know what it was like on the journey to Bethlehem.  I have rode horses and that is not the most comfortable ride ever but that was for a short time.  I cannot imagine being ready to give birth making that trip. 

Then I think of Joseph, he did not have to marry Mary.  He could have walked away, but he did not.  He is a great example to many fathers of what their potential is.  One of my favorite Christmas albums is called The Forgotten Carols.  A song is written from Joseph’s perspective.  In it one of the lines is, “I was not his father He was mine.”  What a good dad to bring up this little boy, loving him and taking care of him. 

The innkeeper always seems to get a bad rap in the story.  It was not his fault the inn was full.  People had come from all over the country to pay their taxes.  He felt bad for the couple and that is why he let them use the stable.  I am sure that if he knew who was going to be born that night he would have put them up in a better place.  However, remember from prophecies about the birth we now that he was going to be meek and mild.  Then born in a stable is perfect for that.  The innkeeper did the best he could. 

I think of the sheppards watching their flocks by night seeing the new star.  Following what the angels had told them to do.  Worshiping the newborn King, can you imagine what it was like?  Here was this new baby perfect like we want our children to be and He was the Savior of the world.  What it must have been like to see those heavenly hosts?  To see angels singing praising to the newborn King. 

Then the wisemen bring their gifts.  They knew who He was; they knew He was the King!  They had read the prophecies of old and new there would be a new star that they followed.  They also knew that Herod would kill the King because he was worried that his kingdom would be taken over.  Little did Herod know that his kingdom was not in any jeopardy? 

So sometime during the next few days I hope that you are all able to read in Luke 2 about the birth of the Savior of the World.  What a loving Father in Heaven we have to give the world His only Begotten Son.  Tonight is the holiest of all nights.  May we all remember the real reason for Christmas, I hope that each of you get those blessing you stand in need of and even those you do not feel like you deserve.  I know that I am blessed to have three beautiful children that I love more than anything.  My goal is to be as good as mother as I can.  I hope that I will be a little like Mary, because she is my hero when it comes to being a mom. 

Joy in the Journey

I wanted to write this post last week but, things came up and it was not done.   On Friday, I thought this was something I needed to write as soon as I could.   We live in very tough times.  As Christians, we know the signs of the times.  We know that Christ will come again to Earth; we have read the Bible and know what the outcome is on this Earth.  We know that no matter what happens the ending score will be that Christ will win and Satan will lose.  Even with us knowing the final score this life it tough!  It is not always easy and sometimes it is hard to see the forest for the trees. 

Friday, was a day that when parents came to pick up their kids more hugs and kisses were shown than on any other day.  This is not surprising; when I found out; I went over and turned off my computer at school.  I did not a student clicking on something and the news coming up.  This was a horrible event and I will not politicize what those parents, teachers, and more importantly students had to witness.  I know for me I thought, I am so glad I can hug my kids, I am glad my children are not afraid to go to school, and I said a little prayer for those parents that had to deal with what will be their own personal hell.   

With that said, we cannot focus on the negative; we need to find the joy in the journey.  This is tough but we need to do it.  Why, you might ask?  This life is short, if you have little children and are in the middle of diaper changes, bottle feeding, getting kids in and out of car seats you might think I am never going to get out of the “terrible 2 stage.”  This is stage is long stage in life, I do not want you to think that I have forgotten what that was like, but before you know it your baby will be voting for president.  The time when you have teenagers is a very long stage, but they are closer to the age when they can give you grandchildren and you can just smile when they talk to you about their teenager.  (For me it is at least 10 more years) 

How do we find the joy in the journey?  I think this is a day-by-day issue; sometimes it is hard to find any joy in our life.  This is normal, when you are going through the depths of hell in a trial we might not be able to even see if we are in a tunnel let alone see the light.  Last year, I had a wonderful friend give me some advice, he has probably forgotten what he said to me but I did not.  He said, “Soon you will be at the top of the mountain and think, Wow!  I did that! “  Now on my journey up the mountain there have been times when I have not been tied down to well and have fallen several feet, but getting up and trying to get to the top is something I have tried to do. 

This Christmas Season I have been blessed to see the joy in one of my favorite scriptures, in Matthew 25: 34-46, Christ is sharing the parable of the goats and the sheep.  In verse 40 it says, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. “  How blessed I have been as people are willing to help clothe, feed, and make sure my family is safe. 

It is hard being the “least of these.”  However, as I am able to have a car that runs, thank you Mom and Dad Froenk.  Yesterday when I was able to get long pants for the girls for school, shoes for kids and groceries for a nice Christmas dinner, I thought of the times when I was able to help.   Getting the help is not the easy part; it is the giving of the help.  However, I am grateful for the help that I received.  Donating to people less fortunate at this time of year is easy for most of us.  We have the Christmas spirit and we want our children to know what it is like to help others.  To those that have helped I cannot thank you enough.  You will be blessed now and in the future for your help.  To those that have to receive this year, try to find the joy in the journey then pay it forward through your deeds both great and small.

With that said, I would like to end by letting you know that I know that Jesus is the Savior of the World.  These next 9 days as you finish your shopping, make cookies for Santa, get your houses ready, take time to read the story of the birth of Christ in Luke.  Talk to your children and help them remember why we even celebrate this time of year.  Thank you again to all of those that have helped my little family in the past and will in the future.  The blessing I have received overwhelms me and I hope one day I will be deserving of every one of them.