Thankful Thursday and Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Well, we made it. It's here. The shopping is finished, the gifts are wrapped, the house is clean, the cooking is (mostly) done. In less than 24 hours, it will be over for most of you. (For us, we have celebrations tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday, so we get to stretch it out a bit longer.)

Did you spend the season the way you wanted? Did you soak up time with family and friends or were you dashing around frantically trying to get it all checked off the list right up until a few hours ago? Were you like me and wished it didn't go by so quickly or did you find yourself secretly hoping it would just hurry and get here so you could get it over with?

I'll be honest, this season wasn't quite as perfect as I was hoping it would be. David had to work way too much and way too hard and we weren't able to spend the time together that I would have liked. I didn't get all of my shopping finished and stuff done as early as I usually do, which was overwhelming and stressful.

But here's the thing: tonight, it doesn't matter. It's done. Somehow on the night before Christmas, everything else fades away and all is peaceful. We're together. And we're healthy and we're happy and we're home.

"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.'"

A Savior. Born for ME. For that, and for the million other blessings that Savior has given me, I am thankful. I hope you can say the same tonight.

Merry Christmas!

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