Reason For the Season

[Kelly_Marie]

As the days get shorter and the darkness seems empty, I want to focus on the precious moment.  This season, to me, is to celebrate the life of the I AM.  The Lord who took away my sin and more recently is  assisting with how I choose to look and be aware of all precious moments. 

It seems strange but during the dark winters I need to work at the brighter side of every situation.  Create a gratitude list nightly in my journal.  Saturday I will participate in a funeral for a dear friend that lost his battle to cancer.  I've been experience minor panic attacks, scared of pains that could indicate the cancer is back.  I've appreciated Mary sharing her mediatation website, I'm ordering them this morning.

So here I've created a new topic.  To return to to share my gratitude and hear what others are doing to create their season of hope and brightness to their world.

[Tara]

The reason for the season is even more predominant in my life than before.  I have always been a christian -raised Southern Baptist, although I am a Methodist convert now. 

There is so much debate over the whole Santa issue among my friends now.  I've got the entire spectrum - 1 who spends 500-1,000 on each of her kids...... another who has told her 2 year old that there is no such thing as Santa or reindeer.  Conner got to see Santa, and gets to believe in the magic.  He will only get 1 gift from Santa though, everything else is coming from us.  We've been explaining that Christmas is kind of like a big birthday party for Jesus (we're going to celebrate with a cake). We made Chrismon ornaments - - his are beeeeaaaayoutiful!  The traditional white and gold to signify His purity and majesty.  It's hard to explain so much to a 3 year old though.  It's like I don't ever remember learning about God, Jesus, the virgin birth, crucifixion - all of those things that are part of the Christian religion.  My parents had me at church every time the doors were opened and that's what we're doing with Conner.  He says the blessing every night.  Trying to train up a child so that he doesn't depart......  I was glad when we went to see a friend in the hospital last week.  They had a life sized nativity in their lobby - the first thing he pointed out was Baby Jesus.  It's really sad to see how commercialized Christmas has become.  It's more about Santa, Snowmen, Dancing penguins and reindeer than Christ.  Without him it is just mas........... Isn't that used in Spanish for bigger, better, more, etc? 

[Rene]

For me the holidays this year are very special. I've made it through almost a year of chemo and I'm so close to being done. I will never take my health for granted again.
I think it's important for me to tell my daughter about the Story of Christ's birth. She really doesn't get, but I tell her anyway.
We drive around and look at the Christmas lights and she always points out "Snowman-aclaus". It cracks me up every time she says it. I think Santa Claus represents a magical part of Christmas that I want her to experience. I try to shield her as best I can from my health issues and Santa, Frosty etc help with that. 
I love to give gifts also, but the best feeling I got this year was to give gifts to our local rescue mission. I saw a news story that they had 60% less gifts for people than usual.
For me the Christmas holidays warm my heart. I am having my husband's family over on Christmas Eve and going to my mom's on Christmas Day.  Happy Holidays to all.

[Kelly_Marie]

I enjoyed hearing others reason for the Christmas season.  Now we are in the New year season, just 6 days into the new year.  I am grateful to hear others agree 2008 will be great!  Already I am grateful for the family I have, friends dear to me, and new friends waiting to be made.  I appreciate the opportunity to work at a career I love and daily learn to enjoy the precious moment.

Even today with whipping cold wind and snow loaming in the distance, I sit with a black lab curled near me.  The precious moment is any moment we are in together.

Have a great Year!