Yesterday was spent in the big city.
Maggie had a follow up appointment at the Dr., and it's a two and a half hour trip one way,
so we made a day of it.
(By the way, she did great at the appointment- charmed the staff, and of course, refused to do things any way but hers for the physical therapist.)
After the appointment, we went to lunch and then on to "Tar-jiay", since we do not have one of those here in Apple-Asia.
After ten minutes in the store, husband and I looked at one another and remarked nearly in unison that nearly everyone in that store appeared to be so unhappy- both the customers and the staff.
The dourness was noteable.
People scurrying around with their cell phones adhered to their ears, crumpled lists in hand, with pinched, sour expressions on their faces. No sign of merry anything- just the harried pulse of preoccupied shoppers going and getting, pushing and shoving. Weary store clerks just trying to get through another chaotic day.
Driving home, we could not help but think about our heavenly Father watching all of this, and how sad it must make Him to see His children so miserably entrenched in what the world has told us Christmas is, which conversely, is everything it is not.
As parents, it is easy to get swept away in the flurry to find the perfect gifts to grant our children's every wish.
But it creates a pretty slippery slope of empty and constant cravings for more...bigger...better.
We are working to keep our Christmas simple and Christ-centered.
Focusing on spending time doing some of the things that make it and keep it special- going to see the light displays, spending time with friends and family, baking cookies, decorating the tree with special ornaments, watching some favorite holiday movies...(mine is "A Wonderful Life.")
How about you and your family? What do you do to make Christmas special in your home?
A Christmas Prayer
Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
- Robert Louis Stevenson-
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG){kind=link}