Christmas Eve

Well, today both of Monty's kids and grandkids plus my kids and 1 grandkid were to spend Christmas Eve with us. A huge and unexpected snowstorm hit Texas and we woke up to a snowy Christmas Eve. My youngest son lives in Abilene and it hit there first and I figured out about 9:30am that he wouldn't be with us today, bummer! Then as the day progressed, my oldest son who lives not far from us called and asked if the roads were getting worse where we lived and yes, they were, then Monty's son who was to come with his girlfriend called and they decided the roads were too bad also, so that left his daughter and her 2 girls who live in the same town as we do and they came on over and ate Monty's special green chile enchiladas, guacamole and green chile cheese sauce, fruit and of course Christmas cookies. The girls were excited to open presents and then they went back home to make cookies for Santa. This is the first Christmas his daughter has spent alone, since she divorced this year and she cried all the time she was here. Very sad. The Christmas Eve services were cancelled all over the area, people are stranded in weird places, some together some alone, but it certainly doesn't seem like Christmas Eve. I am very thankful Monty got home last night before all this mess hit and I did not have to be alone on this holiday. Like I said in my lesson on Sunday, we don't have to like the hustle and bustle the gift buying, and the awkwardness of blended family get togethers, but the one thing we need to remember is that our gracious, merciful heavenly Father sent his son to be born and that is why we have Christmas in the first place. We give gifts as a reminder of his gift to us. If we hate all that Christmas has been made into, we still need to reverently stop and thank God and Jesus for their provision for redemption that began with Christmas.

As I grow older it seems sillier and sillier to me to wear ourselves out with the materialistic side of this holiday but I grow more and more thankful for all he has done for me through Jesus' birth and death on the cross and the daily indwelling of the Holy Spirit in me, as insignificant as I am. I get so weary of the daily trials that bring me closer to Him but each time I get a small glimpse of His presence or a message from Him my soul thrills to be even closer to my Lord and Saviour. One day I will be a joint heir with Him in Heaven. Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!