Tis the Season

I don't know if anyone reads this blog, but i enjoy writing so I will keep it up.  I love this time of year.  I love buying presents for others and I have to reel myself in or I would spend every dime and then some.  I love Christmas lights and decorating the tree.  I love to go to singing christmas trees and plays.  It's the only time of year I actually want it to be cold so I can stand by a fire and drink hot cocoa.  Truly, it is the most wonderful time of the year.

I find myself counting all my blessings more this year.  I am thankful for my family and friends.  We had an awesome Thanksgiving and stayed together and played together, literally all day.  I am not sure I have ever laughed that hard in my entire life. This is also the time of year when you reflect on everything that's happened in your life...i'm not sure why it all floods.  You can find yourself wanting to change 1,000 things that should have been done differently.  So, thankfulness for God's forgiveness, grace, love and mercy starts to overwhelm me.  People always talk about Karma.  Well it's not really Karma, but God wants us to extend his love, grace, forgiveness and joy to others.  If we do, He blesses us with it in return, but remember if you are harsh, judgemental, haughty...that is likely what will come back to you as well.  The media bombards our senses this time of year. Buy this, do that, Santa is coming. It's easy to get caught up in it, I do find myself doing it from time to time.  Let's refocus ourselves on the real reason we need to celebrate.  No Virginia, Santa isn't the reason despite the Macy's commercials and he doesn't live on and on.  However, Jesus is.  God sent his son to live and go through all the things we go through, to take on our sin, and to restore our path back to Him.  What better reason for celebrating? I don't know what exact month or day or even time of year Jesus was actually born.  Perhaps we do celebrate this particular date because of a pagan calendar.  Let's remember what's important though, God did send his son to be born through Mary in Bethlehem.  God did show the shephards the star to follow and they visited him in a manger because there was no room in the inn.  He was born, He lived, He died for us. He rose again and one day we will be with him once more! What more do we need to be joyous and giving and loving towards each other and our God than that? Merry Christmas everyone!