This Christmas

Daughter, Ruth Ann’s home

I have come to realize that in the last several years around this time I start to become “blue”. Not a depression but an underlying sense of sadness. There was no desire to put up a tree or decorate if was just going to be Dave and I….why bother, too much work just for us and other excuses I would make.

When the children were young it was a fun family time and we looked forward to it every year. Thanksgiving was always a favorite time then the rest of the month we prepared for Christmas celebrations and celebrating Jesus’ birth.
Over the years they got married and started their own families and traditions, rightly so. We moved away seven years ago for my husband’s job so our time together at the holidays became few and far between. The thoughts of “why bother, Christmas is really for the children” or “it’s only fun and magical when children are around” would surface.

Sometimes when we were able to go back to Ohio and spend Christmas with our children and grand babies we felt like we had a good reason for not getting a tree, decorating or baking. The few times they were able to visit during Christmas we would decorate the tree and house. I would enjoy baking because “now there was a reason”.

This year, around Thanksgiving I started noticing these feelings again and they were usually centered on not spending much time with our family. I did not like feeling this way and I knew it was wrong so I sought God for answers. I went to bed Saturday praying about this, Sunday when I woke up He showed me my heart and priorities were in the wrong place. I needed to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Even though I thought I was, I really wasn’t.

Yes family time, decorating, traditions and fun are an important part but I was focusing on who I did not have or get to spend time with instead of Who had me and my relationship with Him!

There is a renewed excitement for both of us to start new traditions with each other. This year Dave and I are focusing on Advent and one way is by reading together “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” compiled by Nancy Guthrie. We want to really focus on what Jesus did, why he came, died and was resurrected.

I want to get a tree, lights and enjoy this season because of Him!

Then any time we can have with our family…..that’s the icing on the sugar cookies! 

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