I recently heard
someone say, "December 26th is the most depressing day of the
year." What a sad statement. However, I can see why someone might think
that. Think of all the excitement and
activity that happens between Thanksgiving and Christmas: the decorations, the
Black Friday shopping, the food, the parties, the fun and festive music, the
GIFTS! All that build up, all that
excitement, with the climax coming sometime between the dark night hours of
Christmas Eve and the morning hours of Christmas day. The dust settles…or shall I say, the wrapping
paper… You look around your living room,
no more packages bulging out from under the tree, mess and clutter littered
about, perhaps your thoughts scan your own personal wish list, "did I get
what I wanted", or you might think, "well, time to clean up, it's
over…" That warm and fuzzy feeling
of doing "good deeds" and giving fades. When that infamous day, December 26th hits we
know what comes next, and days, weeks, months later the gifts are a distant
memory…
Yes, I suppose that can be a depressing way to look at it. BUT…it doesn't have to be that way. Christmas should be more that just a day of
the year, or even a "season of giving". It should be a feeling; a compelling love that is powered by the very
Spirit of God within us. That is, if we
choose to make Christ our Lord. If we
realize we are nothing without Him, if we repent of our sinful thoughts and
actions, if we truly have a desire to turn from those sinful thoughts and
actions and to turn our hearts to the desire of the Lord. Then, and only then, can we feel the true
Christmas "feeling" ALL YEAR THROUGH!
I have to share this
with you…this Christmas season could be classified as one of the worst
Christmases we Brauns have had in a long time.
By the world's standard of living (which is very shallow and
superficial), I would be quite justified in that claim. Our family has been house bound for many,
many days with illness. We've missed
some pretty special Christmas events; parties, church services, Christmas at
Heritage Hill, the Old World Christmas at Elkhart Lake…and the list goes
on… We've also had some pretty
challenging times with our business.
"Cutbacks" get made here and there. But with all that said, I can honestly say this about the Christmas of 2012…it
has been one of the BEST! Why? Because if it was about trusting God more and
relying less on my own ability, then so be it.
Just being together as a family had so much more meaning. Our focus was on growing…through prayer,
patience, and simple trust in God's plan.
In the process, He blessed us with special memories as a family that will forever be cherished.
So with that, would
I do this Christmas over if I had the chance?
Yes! Not because of the
decorations, gifts, food, or any of that temporary stuff, but because of the
lasting and growing love I have experienced from God. It's a celebration that lives forever, not
just a day! His love NEVER fades, we just have to turn to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment