Thoughts at Christmas

Lots of things are on my mind as Christmas is nearing.  Of course worrying about if I have all the right gifts, what food I’m going to make, etc.  Also, this Christmas I’m trying to make sure I take in every moment, every smell, every act of love, since I can’t be sure we’ll be in the country next Christmas. J But I really have 2 things on my mind that I feel I need to write about.

#1- This terrible tragedy that occurred in Connecticut.  I have to be so careful how much news coverage I watch about it because it is so heartbreaking.  It is only by the grace of God that nothing like that ever happened to me while I was teaching in public school.  I cannot imagine going to school, expecting a normal day, and then everything changing so quickly.  I have imagined the scared teachers hiding with their kids, thinking that could’ve been me.  Would I have been able to stay calm?  Comfort them?  I know I would have been praying, because that is the only thing that can bring comfort in such a time.  I do not have words to express my feelings of sorrow for the families and friends suffering at this time.  My prayers are with them as there will be many unopened Christmas presents this year.

#2- Moving to a lighter subject, it has been so wonderful being home the last few weeks and getting to hear my Pastor preach.  He has brought up a point that is sticking in my mind and I want to share.  I have never really thought about Mary and how significant she is in the Christmas story.  (By the way, I in no way mean to make her a deity or saint, but I believe we can learn a lot from her.)  Imagine a young girl, preparing to marry, and an angel tells her she’ll soon have a baby.  How crazy is that?!  But beyond that, imagine being chosen by God for such a holy responsibility!  God looked down and saw her life and decided SHE was the person who He could trust with His Son.  This makes me think, what does God think when he looks down on me?  Would I even come close to the type of person He trusted with His Son?  My other thought about this is I know we all have a holy responsibility.  God has a will and plan for all of our lives.  It may not seem as significant as what Mary did, but if it’s what God wants, then it’s what we should do.  Let’s think about Mary this Christmas and ask ourselves, is our life as open to God’s will as hers was? Would we sacrifice our bodies to fulfill His plan?  Would we sacrifice our family and reputation to fulfill His plan? {We know that not everyone believed she was conceived of the Spirit, so in that time/culture she may have been shunned.  We at least know that Joseph “put her away privily”. (Matthew 1:19)} Would we follow His plan without questions? 

Praying you and your family have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!  My love to you all! ~Kayla