Saturday, December 20, 2014

Holiday Time: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly


 
 Is it just me or is the most wonderful time of the year one of the most stressful times of year also? I have noticed that over the last seven years of marriage that the holidays tend to be more anwry than any other time of the year. When we were first married we had a huge fight our first Christmas because of something our son did to his cousin, it didn’t help that my wife was pregnant at the time. Then going back 20 years my father passed away just before the holiday season really got started on November 4, 1994. So that makes this a tough time of year for me. I do however remember one of the last presents that I ever got from my dad and i still have it to this day.  It was a stuffed teddy bear that was brown with a bow tie on we named it “Brownie” I know not super creative but it was the best I could do I was eleven at the time. This makes me sad thinking about it,  but it also makes me happy because I can still recall that last Christmas with my dad. 
     However, the holidays are not all bad. I have two sons who love Christmas and I know that one of them loves Jesus still not sure about the other. While one believes in Santa Claus and the other does not. That makes things a challenge around here trying to keep the oldest from spilling the beans. But each year we all get a new ornament from someone, usually the boys are getting the ornament from their grandparents along with my wife who gets one from her grandmother, and my wife buys me a new National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation ornament (that is my favorite Christmas movie). During Christmas break we will make cookies and generally watch a  lot of Christmas movies. The last several years we have gone caroling with members of our church through different neighborhoods. We are trying to instill in the boys the true meaning of Christmas that it is to celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While I personally don’t believe this is the day he was born on, it is the day we choose to celebrate it with the rest of the Christians around the globe. 
     The sad thing is not every Christian gets to celebrate Christmas like those of us here in the United States, there are countries that being a Christian is agains the law and you could go to jail or even die for your faith. I hope that my boys will never have to experience that kind of persecution in their lives, but if they do I pray they stand up for what they believe in.  This is also a hard season because not everyone can afford to do for their families like others can and it makes people feel less than. While it is not intentional it still happens. What we have to hope and hold on to is the day when the New Heaven and New Earth will appear and we no longer have to worry about this type of celebration because we will be enjoying the presence of Christ. I now that this post was a little more personal than some of my others and I hope you don’t mind. If you enjoyed this post will you comment and let me know. Because my goal is to create content you enjoy not just for me to be spewing words on the screen. 

I leave you with this: What are some fond memories you have of the holiday season?

7 comments:

  1. At risk of "sounding like a girl," one of my favorite memories is helping mom bake, sort and deliver cookies and candies to friends and neighbors. It was a nice time of familial bonding with her and also taught me much about serving others.

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  2. Chad,
    That is not girly at all. I used to make cookies the nestle toll house kind with my mom. It is still one of my fondest memories. I hope to pass on those kind of memories to my kids. I'm glad you had that kind of experience. God Bless,

    Paul

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  3. You know as I started reading your message, I thought I too have FM add CFS, osteoporosis, with
    osteoarthritis, liver disease, migraines, ...I can honestly tell you I know something about pain.
    I almost never take anything for the pain, however I love my heating pad, & HOT baths. I too have found that my Lord strengthens me to do all He needs me to do, also to do what has to be done, day to day cleaning, sweeping, dishes, laundry.....
    as you know repetitive motions stay with you for days, so illness has made a drastic change in my life too. However I know I have grown so much closer to Him, because of them, I depend on Him to get me through each day, which before I would have just depended on myself & not call on Him
    I have seen His Faithfulness & great love. If my health is to keep me humble, then Amen. If it is used to bring me closer to Him
    then again I say Amen. I praise my Lord. Glory be to the perfect Lamb of God.
    Thank you for your post/blog. Great point.

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  4. Darla,
    Thank you for your response. I'm glad that this post resinated with you. It was one that was not easy to write. I am hopeful that the Lord will bless us as long as we are faithful to him. I like you suffer from multiple conditions. This condition drives me to God more than I ever imagined that it would.
    Thanks again for your response.
    Paul

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  5. I know it is not easy but I am going to pray God give you comfort for your pain, strength for where there is weakness, and most of all to be used by God, remember He has a plan for & it will be good for you.....May you be fruitful and prosperous for the Kingdom of God. May you receive all He has instore for you with great expectation and joy. GOD BLESS, & remember His GRACE IS SUFFICIENT, always.

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  6. Thank You Darla!! I really appreciate your kindness. It is my goal for this site to be used by the Lord for his glory and I impact one life, I am going to be happy. This is not all for naught.

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  7. Amen, Glory to God!

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