It is hard to believe that 2009 is already here... and Christmas is pau already. Seems like we just put up the trees and now comes the task of packing it all away for next year.
One of the goals I have had over the last couple of years is to just enjoy the season; we do get so wrapped up in the busyness of Christmas that we forget to stop and reflect on the wonder and message of the season. We had a wonderful Christmas, but as we worked through all that "stuff" that needs to be done, the words to a song by Amy Grant played through my head: "I need a silent night, a holy night" -- this message was so right on and reminded me of the purpose in what we do.
I did manage, though busy, to enjoy the season. It is such a gift to watch McKiah enjoy Christmas too -- at this age it is all about what she wants; you know what I mean, "get, get, get". We have been trying to help her understand that it is better to give than to receive... and I think she gets it a little, but still likes to "get". She was so proud of herself in the homemade gifts that she gave to Barbie and I: a ceramic bowl that she made at school, and beaded necklaces for each of us that she made with Gram. The necklace, is full of color and doesn't really match anything, but she made it in love and I gladly wore it all day on Christmas day. I will treasure these memories and gifts forever.
Santa brought McKiah a keyboard and toolbox this year. She said she wanted to a toolbox so she could help her daddy (my heart melts when she says stuff like that). And, we hope that we can begin to help her develop some musical skills while she is young. Santa also left his annual letter to McKiah full of stuff like "being a good girl", "thank you for the cookies", etc. but he always leaves a message for her to remember that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birthday. With Christmas under constant attack, we always want McKiah to understand the real reason for the season.
McKiah told me a week or so before Christmas that God also brings gifts like Santa. How do you tell a five year old that God doesn't deliver tangible physical gifts like Santa does? This was a hard one. I used it as an opportunity to share a little about God's gifts and how you can't really touch, see, feel, or open them in a physical sense; God's gifts are all around us and the best gift of all was the baby Jesus. She went right on to the question so I guess she got it. I just did not want her to think that God physically came into our house on Christmas Eve and left tangible gifts. I made sure that she understood that God does not need to come into our house, because he is already there; ALWAYS.
The highlight of the season was baking a birthday cake for Jesus. McKiah had so much fun helping daddy make the cake this year... it is always a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. This gave me another opportunity to talk about Jesus' birthday and how Santa is always invited.
Speaking of Santa, I was moved this year by the image of Santa kneeling at the manger. I gave a devotional on this image at our staff Christmas party this year. It struck me, that while St. Nick loved and served God, he has become a secular symbol. This image of Santa kneeling at the manger made me think that no matter what Christmas becomes... it always comes back to the manger.
I could go on... but that is enough for now!
Have a Happy New Year and God bless!
