December 1st

December 1st

December 1st marks the beginning of season of remembering the birth of Christ.  It's the beginning of a great celebration of hope as we remember how God sent His only son Jesus to be born among us so that he could live perfectly, die sacrificially, and bring us peace here on earth and for eternity to come.  We usher in this seasons with cozy new Christmas jammies, a hot chocolate party, laughter together, and beginning an Advent devotional which helps us to slow down and soak in this season of remembering.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

I do my best to live right in the moment but honestly that doesn't come naturally to me AT ALL.  As the kids grow it's hard not to let my mind wander forward or back remembering how it was when they were small or wondering how many more times I'll see them all doing "little kid" things like this together.  These thoughts makes me sad initially.  I've lost some people.  In fact on this day 24 years ago I was in a car accident that took the lives of 2 of my college roommates.  So I know how quick life can change and how fleeting the things we take for granted can be, but I've also learned some things.  One thing I've learned from watching my Mom walk through hard things is that gratitude is life giving and it is 100% a choice, though often a really hard choice.  It is a choice to look up and to remember what God has done and to take notice of what He's still doing and the fact that He hasn't left us.  I remember back when my Dad was sick and we knew we were going to loose him apart from a miracle people would say how sorry they were to my mom and she'd say I have much to be grateful for.  Back then I thought that's the right answer but that CANNOT be how you really feel.  I mean yes but mostly your mad and sad and all the things, and she was those things too, but she returns again and again and again almost stubbornly to gratitude.  There's literally ALWAYS something to be grateful for if you're willing to take your eyes off of yourself and look up.  This wasn't meant to be a reflection on that but these are the things that run through my head as I look at this silly picture of the kids looking like a giant star passing the soccer ball between their legs.  The thoughts creep in, the what ifs, and how sad would it be if, because loss teaches us we aren't guaranteed anything.  I learned these truths young.  YET He has given us THIS moment, THIS day, and on THIS particular day my 7 kids ages 16 to 6 are sitting on the ground together in new Christmas pajamas playing and laughing while I sip hot chocolate and that's pretty stinkin' great!!  So I'll fight every day to live filled with gratitude and even as I look back on this photo I'll be reminded to live and be grateful for each moment I'm given because every one of them is a gift.