The older I get, the more difficult it becomes to decorate the house for Christmas. It requires boxes of decorations being brought down from the attic, rearranging my furniture; ladders, and boxes and boxes of ornaments, greenery, and other assorted decorations to be put out; and at least two days of physical work that leave Jerry and I with backaches and stiff muscles. We like to put everything up early so we have a long time to enjoy our tree and everything that goes with it.
Of course, what goes up must come down. That requires two more days of hard work and many trips up and down the stairs. After all the garlands and lights and ornaments are put away, I feel a mixture of emotions. I know I will be glad to get my house back in order, but I will miss the lights of the Christmas tree in the mornings when I get up and drink my coffee from a favorite Christmas mug. And I miss the anticipation of Christmas.
I love everything about Christmas: the lights, the music, the smells, the foods, and most of all, the relationships. I love carving out special times for special people…friends and family. Our family keeps growing and changing, and with that needs change. We are going to need to alter our Christmas traditions next year. We now have married grandchildren, so in addition to the families of our sons-in-law, we have to schedule around another layer of in-laws who also want time. We have college grandchildren who return home at various times and a working granddaughter who lives out of state and can only be home for a few days. Even our grands that live here have work schedules and constant activities we must work around. Twenty-four people with twenty-four different needs.
As I put away Christmas this year, I have no idea what it will look like next year. For this mother hen who loves all her chicks close to the nest, it is hard to be flexible, but that is what I must be. As for Jerry and I, we are acutely aware that this is another bonus Christmas after his close brush with death a few years ago. We now have more widowed friends, and the number grows every year. Maybe it is the knowledge that time is running out that makes me treasure each Christmas. I used to tease my grandmother for saying, “I wonder how many more Christmases we will have to all be together.” Now I get it.
I guess relationships are the most important part of Christmas. After all, relationship is the reason we have Christmas in the first place. God desired a relationship with man, so he came to earth to dwell among us and provide a way for us to be in relationship with Him.
As I pack away Christmas, I want to keep part of it all year long. My greatest gifts are my relationships. My relationship with Jesus is primary. But my family is my treasure. I’m so blessed to have my husband and our children, grandchildren, and now four little greats! We are so blessed to be a part of a large and loving family. We are a part of a vibrant and loving church family. We are blessed with many friends and acquaintances we enjoy.
Thank you, Lord for Christmas. Help me to celebrate all year long!
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV).
LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered–how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4 (NLT).
The older I get, the more difficult it becomes to decorate the house for Christmas. It requires boxes of decorations being brought down from the attic, rearranging my furniture; ladders, and boxes and boxes of ornaments, greenery, and other assorted decorations to be put out; and at least two days of physical work that leave Jerry and I with backaches and stiff muscles. We like to put everything up early so we have a long time to enjoy our tree and everything that goes with it.
Of course, what goes up must come down. That requires two more days of hard work and many trips up and down the stairs. After all the garlands and lights and ornaments are put away, I feel a mixture of emotions. I know I will be glad to get my house back in order, but I will miss the lights of the Christmas tree in the mornings when I get up and drink my coffee from a favorite Christmas mug. And I miss the anticipation of Christmas.
I love everything about Christmas: the lights, the music, the smells, the foods, and most of all, the relationships. I love carving out special times for special people…friends and family. Our family keeps growing and changing, and with that needs change. We are going to need to alter our Christmas traditions next year. We now have married grandchildren, so in addition to the families of our sons-in-law, we have to schedule around another layer of in-laws who also want time. We have college grandchildren who return home at various times and a working granddaughter who lives out of state and can only be home for a few days. Even our grands that live here have work schedules and constant activities we must work around. Twenty-four people with twenty-four different needs.
As I put away Christmas this year, I have no idea what it will look like next year. For this mother hen who loves all her chicks close to the nest, it is hard to be flexible, but that is what I must be. As for Jerry and I, we are acutely aware that this is another bonus Christmas after his close brush with death a few years ago. We now have more widowed friends, and the number grows every year. Maybe it is the knowledge that time is running out that makes me treasure each Christmas. I used to tease my grandmother for saying, “I wonder how many more Christmases we will have to all be together.” Now I get it.
I guess relationships are the most important part of Christmas. After all, relationship is the reason we have Christmas in the first place. God desired a relationship with man, so he came to earth to dwell among us and provide a way for us to be in relationship with Him.
As I pack away Christmas, I want to keep part of it all year long. My greatest gifts are my relationships. My relationship with Jesus is primary. But my family is my treasure. I’m so blessed to have my husband and our children, grandchildren, and now four little greats! We are so blessed to be a part of a large and loving family. We are a part of a vibrant and loving church family. We are blessed with many friends and acquaintances we enjoy.
Thank you, Lord for Christmas. Help me to celebrate all year long!
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV).
LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered–how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4 (NLT).