Merry Christmas 2009

My Christmas traditions were changed in a big way this year and it has taken me out of my comfort zone. The biggest change was the no presents under the tree in favor of a cruise. In the following days I will post a blog concerning the cruise and all the pictures I can cram on the page. Until last night I had no decorations up. This is huge considering I am the person who puts up two trees and has 28 large boxes of decorations for the inside and outside of my home. I have not wrapped the first present... for there are none to wrap. The Cruise was the gift I gave to my family. I didn't realize how depressed I was until Joshua(who has been cleaning my house as his gift to me!!) made me get a few things down. Thank God. We put up a few items and my mood lifted. I really didn't realize how important all my little traditions were to me. Maybe only to me at this time. When we are blessed with grand kids I imagine that my traditions will resurface and make memories for a new generation. I know that for me the birth of our Lord Jesus is foremost on my mind during this time of the year and the decorations are the icing on the cake of the single most important event in the history of the world. I remained focused the past few weeks on celebrating the birth that changed the world and realized that no decoration, no present, no party could ever match the gift that God gave the world. I sat alone last night with my tree lights on and watched the movie "The Nativity" twice, back to back, on TV. The first time was wonderful. The second brought my tears. I was so moved by the awesomeness of the birth, the acceptance of Mary and Joseph to allow God to use them with total trust. I cannot explain how wonderful I felt and how CLEAN I felt within my spirit. Praise God for his wondrous gift to us. This Christmas as you are enjoying time with your family take time out to reflect on the reason that we celebrate, the gift of the Child from a merciful God. I will miss my traditions and miss my multiple decorations but I am so very blessed by the journey of a simple man and woman into the town of Bethlehem. In the stable surrounded by animals Mary gave birth to the King of Kings. This event, this one thing, changed my life and that of millions. May God bless you this season and give you peace. Hallelujah Jesus is born.