We all have different traditions, responsibilities and ways of celebrating but there are also a lot of common denominators when it comes to being a mom during this busy holiday season. You might be baking yourself into a frazzled frenzy (or maybe you're baking took place earlier this month), preparing grocery lists for last minute gifts and turkey dinners and likely wishing you had hired a maid for all the cleaning required if you are having company over. Chances are you will be up late wrapping presents on the 24th when you should be sleeping... only to be waken up far too early by little ones (or not so little ones) wanting to open their presents.
The list of things to get done at Christmas time is always the same from year to year but this year as my children begin to get a bit older I found myself thinking about what I wanted this special time of year to look like for my family. What I wanted to teach my children (or not teach my children for that matter) about what it really means to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. So this year we have started some new traditions. Every day in December before my kids open their advent calendars we read some verses relating to the Christmas Story. Then I have my children answer questions about what we read. At bed time we have been reading "One Wintry Night" by Ruth Bell Graham which tells the Story of Christ's birth... beginning with the reason we needed a Saviour to begin with. During the day I am doing my best to give me family gifts. Not presents to be unwrapped each day but the gifts God has given us... gifts of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, LOVE and FAITH.
I wish you ALL a very Merry Christmas as you share God's love with your families this holiday season and with the world.
I recently came across this modification of 1 Corinthians 13 and thought it was something that would be nice to share with the Mom's of Bethany...
1 Corinthians 13 – a Christmas Version
"IF I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
IF I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
IF I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
IF I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
LOVE stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
LOVE doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
LOVE bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure."
"IF I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
IF I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
IF I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
IF I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
LOVE stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
LOVE doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
LOVE bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure."
