December 6, 2008

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised. Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd’s rod and staff protect me. You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honored guest and fill my cup to the brim. I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life; and your house will be my home as long as I live.

Greetings My Friend,

It is now the Christmas season. I remember being overwhelmed as I struggled to “do Christmas,” for my family. I wanted to have the smell of fresh baked breads and cookies to welcome them. I wanted to make this time of year to be very special. I was not very good at this. Our home was not a very “safe” home for them to grow up in. There were always fights – violent ones, loud fights.

As the years went by, I grew to hate the Christmas season. I dreaded the next fight. I dreaded the unhappiness that would invade our lives. I dreaded the children’s disappointment because there was one more unhappy memory in their lives.

As a young girl I learned the 23rd Psalm. I have always felt great comfort when I read it. It is usually read at funerals – but I find that as I face struggles this Psalm brings me peace and comfort.
My home at Christmas as a child was filled with anger as well. There was always a fight. Mom wanted to put the Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve after us kids went to bed. In my mother’s home at Christmas her mother was at home. Putting up the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve was not as hard. It could be worked into the life routine without a lot of stress. For Mom it was too hard for her. She worked all week then she would rush around to do the shopping – on a limited budget and then getting the tree up was the last straw for her. She spent most Christmas’ wore out and very cranky.

I am starting to believe that each generation may need to make new traditions. What worked in the past does not always work in the present.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. We remember Jesus’ birth – God sent His son into the world. Through Jesus we are made right with God. I am awed to think that Jesus came as a baby, lived among us and ultimately died for us. Wow!

As we start the Christmas season, I would like to ask you to “slow down, bow down and in that I pray that you hear Jesus – not the world’s view of Christmas. I pray that you not worry about having a picture perfect Christmas – but a Christ perfect one. We do a lot more for our family, if we are kind and patient and loving. If the children help with the tree, don’t get upset because it isn’t like the ones at the mall. They will only help for a little while and then they will be grown up. If Christmas Day gets here and you didn’t get all the baking done – that’s okay! Sing, quietly, lovingly put up the tree and take it easy.
Remember Jesus this Christmas – not how many toys your children got, the big pile of presents or the family member who annoys you. Jesus came for each one of us. He is our comforter, our strength and I believe at times our sanity.

I just thought about Jesus. He was born to a teenage mother. He was born in a stable. He had poor parents and animals were there at his birth. Why do we need to have a Hallmark Christmas – He didn’t get born in one!

May God bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you.

Love
Janet