Christmas Memory - Trimming the Tree

I love this season!

I love decorating my home!

And yes…I am that person that decorates early!

I can’t help it…I just can’t wait!

I believe my desire to decorate early started when my children were young!

They would start asking to decorate for Christmas long before Thanksgiving…and I couldn’t resist their sweet requests to start the holiday season early!

Their enthusiasm was contagious…and the tradition of decorating my home early has continued throughout the years!

As I pulled out our Christmas decorations and trim, I can remember my young children looking into each storage container with awe and wander!

And as each preciously wrapped ornament or decoration was unwrapped…their eyes would light up with the joy of the season!

The delight on their faces melted this mother’s heart!

I loved sharing these tender moments with my little ones!

They would then eagerly show me where they thought each decoration should be placed!

And as they got older, they made sure certain Christmas decorations were placed in the same spot each year!

It was as though they knew each treasured decoration had its own place, and we shouldn’t change it!

We often purchased a real tree when my children were young!

They loved heading to the Tree Farm to pick out our Christmas tree!

But some years, we would spend a lot of time just choosing the perfect tree from a lot!

Regardless of where the tree was purchased, the scent of pine filled our home immediately as we brought the tree in, making it feel a little more like Christmas!

Don would place the tree in the stand, turning the tree around and around, making sure the best side of the tree faced the outer room!

It was also Don’s job to hang the lights on the tree! 

I loved watching my children as they patiently (and sometimes not so patiently) waited for their daddy to put the lights on the tree! 

Don was extremely detailed as he hung the lights!

He didn’t just wrap the lights around the outer tree!  He wrapped the lights in and around each tree branch, making sure the lights shone from the inside of the tree, as well as from the outside of the tree!

It was always beautiful!

And we always hoped and prayed the lights didn’t go out (not fun to find out which strand of lights or which light was causing the issue)!!  

(It’s best not to talk about those memories of a frustrated daddy trying to figure out which strand of lights…or which individual light was causing the issue…all the while three little children were gathering around him trying to help him as best as they could).

Can you picture this??  Or possibly, you might be picturing your own similar image!

As soon as all of the lights were hung, our children would help hang the ornaments!

And it never failed…that some tree branches…some areas of the tree were covered with numerous ornaments…while other branches and areas on the tree looked a little neglected!

My children often loved placing all of the ornaments close together!  (And yes the ADA in me would later distribute the ornaments a little more evenly on the tree…but never in front of their little eyes)! 

But sometimes, I would just leave them where they had hung them…enjoying the memory of their little hands hanging each ornament!

We often would have Christmas music playing in the background as we decorated our tree!

And when we had finished placing all of the ornaments on the tree, one of the children would help their daddy place the angel on top of the tree!

And then we would turn out the lights, and just enjoy the beautifully lit and decorated tree!

I can picture my children’s smiling faces as the gazed upon their tree!

And it’s like it was yesterday…I can literally picture their little faces glowing as the lights reflected upon their sweet faces!

My heart is melting as I picture my three little ones during this season of life!

I am so thankful for each cherished memory!

And as I recall this season of life, I am thankful that throughout the holiday decorating, we shared the true meaning of the season with our children…the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

And each year, we would read…

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over

their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord…Luke 2:6-11

As you begin (or if you are like me, have already decorated for the season), I pray you will remember the true meaning of Christmas and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior!

I pray you are filled with joy today and that you sense God’s presence and peace in your homes!

You are loved!

Overcome Evil with Good!

On Sunday mornings, my husband and I often listen to Dr. David Jeremiah’s sermon while getting ready for church.

I often wish I had time to just sit and listen to the entire message, but usually I only catch bits and pieces as I am hustling about, getting ready!

Last Sunday was no different!

My ears perked up when I heard Dr. Jeremiah referencing a particular scripture in the bible. 

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” …Romans 12:21.

If I am completely honest with myself, that is not always easy, especially when evil is directed towards me or a loved one!

It hurts!

And I don’t like to admit this, but sometimes my initial thought…my initial response…is a desire to hurt back!

However, there is only one way that evil can overcome a Christian!  That is when that Christian returns evil for evil.

You see, when someone insults you, you are not overcome.  You are only overcome when you insult back!

You are copying…doing evil…and evil is overcoming you. 

If someone dislikes you and you dislike them back, evil is getting the victory.

If someone strikes you and your strike back, you have become the evil one!

Ouch!

Though another person’s words and/or actions may hurt us, I know it is not my intent...or yours…to become the evil one!

That’s not who we want to be.

If someone insults you…reviles you…smile back and say, “God bless you”.

This sweet response will catch the one hurling insults off guard!

He or she will not know how to react!

And you, my friend, have just overcome evil with good.

This person has not changed, but you have gone on the offensive with a very powerful weapon – love!

What did Jesus say to do when someone strikes you on the cheek? 

 ^“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” …Matthew 5:39.

Again, this will leave those who intended evil totally confused!

As I listened to Dr. Jeremiah, he said we should respond to evil with the following: (And hopefully, I remembered the phrases correctly…I wasn’t taking notes)!

            Don’t curse it!

            Don’t nurse it!

            Don’t rehearse it!

            Reverse it!

As I previously stated, our initial reaction may to respond to evil with more evil!

And even if we don’t respond to the evil…even if you never say a word…how many times have you cursed the person in your mind who inflicted that horrific pain?

You may have not uttered one retort, but your mind was swirling with all kinds of things you could of/should have said!

You continue to think about the evil word or deed inflicted upon you…nursing the hurt further…allowing yourself to justify every emotion you are experiencing.

And it doesn’t stop there!

You begin playing it over and over in your mind?

And the more you rehearse it over and over…that hurtful comment…that wrong deed…the hurt you are feeling festers and grows and takes on a life of its own!

The entire situation becomes so much worse! 

And before you know it…it consumes you!  You can think of nothing else!

Not only have you allowed the enemy a foothold into your life, you have allowed him to camp out there!

But, if we can remember the wise words of Dr. Jeremiah…

            Don’t curse it!

            Don’t nurse it!

            Don’t rehearse it!

You will reverse it!

You will overcome evil with good…instead of letting evil overcome you!

I know it’s not always easy!

And if we can follow through with what Dr. Jeremiah suggests we do…maybe…just maybe…we can make a difference not only in our own lives, but in the lives of others!

I hope this encourages you as much as it did me!

Blessings dear ones!

It Never Gets Old!

Last week was filled with good news and great joy!

Out tenth grandchild was born!

As this precious new baby was placed in my arms, all I could do was to marvel at the miracle of new life!

It never gets old…beholding the birth of a baby…knowing that God created this tiny one!

Only our Heavenly Father could knit this bundle of joy in his mother’s womb!

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well…Psalm 139:13-14

As I held this precious baby in my arms…as I gazed upon his sweet face, I couldn’t help but praise my Heavenly Father!

This little one was fearfully and wonderfully made…God knows every hair on his head…he knew exactly what this little one would look like when he was born!

Baby Finn is perfect…and absolutely adorable!

He has the sweetest little face…lots of dark hair…and I believe he resembles his older brother!

And Wyatt, his older brother, couldn’t wait to meet his new little brother and hold him!

Seeing this precious family of four just melts my heart!

So much love in this little family!

And in the midst of this joyous occasion…I saw Jesus!

I saw Jesus as I observed this family sharing love between one another, knowing that God is teaching them to love unconditionally!

I saw how blessed they were when Wyatt arrived at the hospital to meet his new little brother!

I saw the love between a father and his three-year old son as daddy greeted us in the hospital lobby and Wyatt immediately ran into his arms!!

You could see how much they had missed each other!

I saw how patient and gentle Jay and Tori were with Wyatt as he climbed up on the hospital bed to see his baby brother!

I watched as they tenderly placed Finn in Wyatt’s arms…and I am pretty sure tears filled all of our eyes as Wyatt gazed upon his baby brother and kissed his little face!

I saw the love between my husband, son and grandsons as we took a picture of three generations of Maxwell men!

And Tori shared with me how she and Jay both lost it when Wyatt left the hospital, missing their oldest son as soon as he left!

I saw the love that my youngest son has for his firstborn child, when Tori called to let me know plans had changed. 

Instead of staying at the hospital that evening, my son wanted to take his son, Wyatt, home and be the one to tuck him in bed that evening!

Since Jay was caring for Wyatt that evening, I went to the hospital and spent the night with Tori and Finn.

I watched a young mama care for her newborn child throughout the evening, night and into the wee hours of the morning!

Finn didn’t sleep well that night, but Tori patiently cared for her newborn son throughout the night, cradling him in her arms…sometimes dozing off when I held Finn…and sometimes closing her eyes briefly as she tenderly cradled this precious baby in her arms!

Though this was her second night with little no sleep, you wouldn’t have known it!  She just did what a mama does…she loved her baby!

The next morning, Jay and I exchanged places!  I took care of Wyatt as he went back to the hospital to pick up Tori and Finn!

Wyatt and I spent the morning getting ready for everyone to come home…making dinner, a welcome home cake, and peanut butter gems (both Jay and Tori had asked for this special treat) …as well as, picking up balloons, party plates and napkins! 

We wanted to make their homecoming special!  And Wyatt was so excited to help with all of the preparations!

Wyatt was napping when they arrived home, but he was so excited to wake up and find his parents and his new baby brother were home!

Again, I was blessed to see the love as this family of four gathered together!

We often heard Wyatt say to his newborn baby brother when he made a sound…” It’s ok Finn…I will protect you”! 

Brotherly love…a love that we all pray will only deepen throughout the years!

I spent the night with them, so I could help the following day!

It was treat to go with Jay as he took Wyatt to preschool that morning! 

I was able to see Wyatt’s new room (he had graduated to a new classroom since the last time I picked him up)!

And I was blessed to see him excitedly run off to join his friends on the playground that morning!

But the drive to daycare blessed me more than anything!

As we were driving, I heard my son say to Wyatt…”It’s time to pray buddy”!

Tori shared with me that there is a certain place during their morning drive that they began their prayer time!

And to hear my son pray for Wyatt…mommy and Finn…and the rest of us that day…filled my heart to overflowing!

I have fond memories of praying for my children before they headed off to school each morning, and to know that my son and his wife are praying for their children…our grandchildren…is an answer to prayers that I prayed many years ago!

They were so many moments that I saw the tangible touch of Jesus displayed in Jay and Tori’s lives…and Wyatt’s too!

All I can do is praise our Heavenly Father…and thank Him for what HE is doing and what HE will continue to do in this young family’s lives!

And my prayer is that this family will continue to grow closer to Jesus each and every day!

Thank you Lord for allow me to share some precious moments with this family during this time!  You are so, so good to all of us!

We praise your Holy, Holy name!