Dec. 20th

I was sitting at church today which just so happens to meet in a school cafeteria and I noticed some pictures on the wall that kids had colored in.  They were pictures of santa, christmas trees with presents underneath, and teddy bears.  For some reason it really struck me how empty it all was.  Christmas without Christ.  What is the point?  Presents? pine trees to cut down and put in your house and decorate? It is all meaningless if you take Jesus out of the picture.  So empty and sad.  I can't even imagine.  That was how I celebrated Christmas the first 8 years of my life.  I do remember it and yet still can't imagine it.  I also remember the let down, you know after all the presents are unwrapped and you look around and there is nothing else.  That's it.  Because you have built up this great santa giving, present getting purpose and once it is over, it's over.  All the excitement is gone, all the build up.  Okay you get my point.
But now, now I have Jesus.  His birth, His life, His death even and most importantly, His resurrection.  I get that hope.  The hope that comes with Christmas.  The hope for something more than this life.  There is something more than this life.  This life that can be so hard and full of so many disappointments, this is not all there is.  And I am so glad for that hope.  That hope I can pass to my children.
So this week, with all the hustle and bustle of trying to get everything perfect, every present wrapped, every goody baked, every dustbunny dusted...I am not.  I am not going to let it get to me.  I am going to keep my focus on what brought us to this "holiday".  The birth of my Saviour.  Because, when He was born, everything changed.  My life changed because of His birthday.  My Christmas changed once I learned the truth.  And I am so thankful for that truth!