Merry Christmas Everyone!
It was a great day yesterday. Jim and I spoke to each of our siblings. My sister surprised us by coming to the Christmas day worship service. It's a surprise because she lives 3,000 miles away! She was in our state to see a few of her kids. She'll go back tomorrow. We then spent the afternoon with my brother and his family and, as always, were spoiled by their generosity (and good food!).
Today is a relax day after the rushing around of Christmas. It's actually my favorite day of the year!
The kids are "playing" with their new "toys". I'm learning how to use my new Kindle. Jim (as he always does) is cleaning, organizing and enjoying a day off from work... a day to just be with family.
So, I have some thoughts rattling around in my head... here are a few of them.
Gifts:
Some gifts
you know you really want and drop hints about them. Others, (like my Kindle)
you didn't know you wanted 'til you got it!
These gifts come from people who know you so well, they know just what will "tickle your fancy". Sometimes you get things you aren't too thrilled about initially (I didn't get any of those) but realize later how perfect they are for you. I was thinking of this when we watched "The Lion and The Witch and The Wardrobe" the other night. Peter, Susan and Lucy got gifts they weren't expecting and wouldn't have necessarily asked for but sure needed.
Not all gifts are tangible. There's love, grace, comfort, work, (jobs), family, responsibilities, intelligence, talent, experiences, even suffering. They all help us become who we are.
God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. His gifts express His love, intimate knowledge of us and perfect wisdom in the selection of His gifts.
Contentment:
Last year I chose a word for the year... "restoration". Sad to say, what I "expected" from that didn't really happen. 2011 was a good year and all, just didn't have all the things in it that I'd hoped. Still, we saw God's love and grace throughout the year... not to mention His faithfulness. I didn't like some of what happened in 2011 but trust that God, who is Sovereign is also GOOD.
This year I'm thinking my word just might be "contentment". In thinking about my life, I'm not usually (ever?) happy with who I am or my circumstances. Circumstances can change and I know that there are certainly changes that I can make in my life, but some things I cannot change. I can't change the fact that I am aging! I'm in my low 50's (okay, well, closer to mid-50's) and don't like what I see in the mirror. I see more and more white hairs. I see wrinkles. When I look at pictures of myself I see an older woman. When did this happen? On the inside looking out I think I'm 20-something! I want to learn to be content with who I am, and where I am. I tend to spend too much time thinking ahead to what's coming OR looking back at what has been (and find myself wallowing in bitterness and regret mixed with happiness.).
"But godliness with contentment is great gain." I Timothy 1:6
I think this just might be my goal for this year.... Godliness with contentment. Yep, that's gonna be it.
Decembruary:
This is the name my kids gave to this week between Christmas and New Year's Day. It's a nebulous kind of week where we just relax, eat too much, play with toys, watch movies, and think about next year. It's the much needed break between the two worlds of Fall and Winter. Once we hit 2012 we will hit the ground running and won't stop until April. By that time we'll need the break that comes with Easter. That's still a long ways off. I won't think about that yet.
I'm enjoying today. I just had lunch with my family. I'm listening to my son's new "Switchfoot" CD and drinking Hazlenut coffee while eating a "Sno-Ball" cookie. Ah... this is good.
