Celebrating Christmas...Wherever We are...

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manager.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what they shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart…Luke 2:16-19.

I recently shared that this holiday season has been a little different this year, but even though it has been a little different, I am extremely blessed!

My hope…my desire…was to be in our new place by Christmas!  I really wanted to be surrounded with things that were familiar to me…that made me feel comfortable and at home!

I’m happy to announce that I’m sitting in our new home as I type!

Has it been a frantic few days…absolutely!  Have I went without sleep…yes!  Did I push myself to get moved in and settled…yes! 

My goal (and if you know me well…you know that I often set high goals for myself) was to be as settled as much as possible before Don got home for the holidays!

I wanted him to be greeted when he arrived here with a home that felt warm and inviting!  And think I have accomplished that!

Though I didn’t get out all of my Christmas decorations, I smile as I gaze over at our Christmas tree…decorated with ornaments that were given to our children as they were growing up!  Each ornament brings back fond memories of when my children were younger.

In a corner of the living room stands the Santa that Don purchased for me several years ago!

And an amazing display of numerous snowman nestled in beautiful Christmas garland are lining the tops of my kitchen cabinets!

I smile as I look around, feeling extremely thankful and blessed!

I think of the song that has been played frequently the past few weeks…It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!  It is…isn’t it!! 

But it’s not because I’m sitting it my new home; it’s because we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The next few days will be spent with family and friends!

We will be attending Christmas Eve services with family…thankful and blessed to share this treasured time with them!  We will give and receive hugs from precious friends as we head in and out of the church service!

Christmas Day will be spent with family…and seeing our precious grandchildren celebrating this season will be such a joy and delight!  I am smiling as I anticipate this cherished time with my family!

And though I am excited for all of the wonderful moments that await me, I can’t help but think of the birth of our Lord and Savior!

Over 2,000 years ago, God sent his son to us.  That precious baby boy was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manager because there was no room for him in the inn. 

His parents had traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  They were away from home…away from familiar surroundings…but none of that mattered to them.  God had blessed them with a child…His son.

The night of Jesus’ birth, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and said, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger…Luke 2:10-12.

Upon hearing this, the shepherds hurried off and found Mary, Joseph, and that baby, lying in a manager.  After seeing baby Jesus, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.

God’s word tells us that…Mary treasured up all of these things and pondered them in her heart…Luke 2:19.

As I read the Christmas story, I too ponder these things.  Though I am so thankful that God has allowed me to feel a little more settled in our new home for the holidays, I realize I would have still had everything I needed if I hadn’t been able to move into our new home before Christmas.

No, I would not have been able to put up my Christmas tree or been able to hang our treasured ornaments.  And no, I would not have had my display of snowman…they would still be nestled in storage totes instead on lining the tops of my kitchen cabinets.

But wouldn’t I have still been able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas anyway!  Of course I would!  I would have had everything I needed to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!

It’s easy to get caught up in thinking we have to have everything just the way we want it to make the holidays perfect, but we already have that…we have the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ…our Lord and Savior…wherever that may be!

I pray that you and your family have a blessed and Merry Christmas!  And I pray that each of you is spending time remembering the truth mean of the season!  As the song says…It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Dear Heavenly Father…thank you the amazing Christmas story!  Thank you for sending us you son…a tiny baby born in the most humble surroundings…a manger!  Thank you that regardless of wherever we are…whether we are home or away from home…whether we are in familiar surroundings or unfamiliar surroundings…we can celebrate the true meaning of Christmas!