As I prepare for Christmas , I am reminiscing on Christmas’ past. My parents were the king and queen of making special memories that I will cherish forever!
If I had to choose my absolute favorite part of our family Christmas, it would hands-down be our yearly Nativity play.
We had a beautiful baby Jesus that came from a church’s nativity scene after it had closed. It used to sit in our curio cabinet, and was so pretty with the lights shining on it. It became awfully tempting to open the glass doors just to touch it. In fact, there were times I would see one of the kids gently holding the precious treasure that was supposed to be left alone.
When my kids, nieces, and nephews were little, dad built a small manger to hold the baby Jesus. While mom read the Christmas story, the little ones would each have a role and act out the story.
The first year, my oldest nephew Alex had the big job of carrying in baby Jesus. He made sure at the appropriate time he would lay baby Jesus in the manger filled with hay. As years went on, the role of carrying in Jesus went to the next in line according to age. Each year, the plays also became a little more detailed.
Costumes were made and the acting sometimes became more dramatic. Little kings kneeling prostrate on the floor (with no prompting from the adults, mind you… maybe a few chuckles but no prompting). It became a very big deal for the sweet children, and the adults! Often during the year there would be mention of who was in charge of the baby Jesus that Christmas.
Christmas can also become a time when I have moments when life just isn’t showing up how I would like. As I reflect on the blessing of these memories, I also feel bouts of sadness.
The kids have grown and now have families of their own. It’s rare that we are all able to gather together. I have lost my dad and youngest sister Sara to Heaven.
I long to make those kind of memories for my kids and grandkids. The difference for me, is that they are spread out in Iowa, Texas, and Florida. In my longing, I find sadness creeping in and I am not living in the moment. The moments filled with blessings.
I’m sure we all have had moments when life just doesn’t show up how we would like or envision. I think it also safe to assume at times, it feels like more than just moments!
Whatever I am struggling with, how I choose to look at the moments ultimately determines how I live my life. How I enjoy the moments.
Our life is precious. A gift from God. Living in gratitude and surrendering our struggles to God are the foundation of creating moments of joy.
I know it is easy to focus on what is going wrong. Especially when those things going wrong are the biggest part of our moments.
I have found the most powerful way to fight the negative perspective is to first show up. Show up with a goal to not focus on what is going wrong but focus on what is going right.
Show up and shift your perspective.
How I perceive my life and life moments becomes my reality. How I see things becomes my truth.
What is your reality? What is your truth?
Whatever you are struggling with, let me remind you, if you are still here on earth, you have a purpose to fulfill. You have memories to create and blessings to share.
This Christmas, I am remembering to see the blessings of the memories I have. The blessing of having those I have lost in my life for the time I did, and the blessing of being reunited with them in eternity. I am also going to create new memories with those I am blessed to share Christmas with in the moment. Memories that not only I will treasure, but they will treasure too.
People will respond to me based on the attitude and perspective I bring to this life. The attitude and perspective that I bring to each new day will create the experience of our moments and ultimately the moments of those I come in contact with.
I am learning to appreciate the chaos as well as the simplicity of my moments. That being thankful in everything is more important than being thankful for something.
The first step is to show up and ask the One who gives me everything to help me see everything the way He sees everything.
I pray that God will help me make that choice. I ask Him to open my eyes to see the blessing in the midst of the rubble. I ask Him to change my heart. To change my vision. To create the desire in me to be joyful when I am feeling lonely or longing for what was.
I surrender my moments to the one who has the ultimate plan for my life. He is the biggest Christmas blessing of all!
Friends, join me in looking for the blessing in the hay!
With love and joy,
Laura
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