Lately...

...I have been a blog lurker, instead of a blog writer. It seems that I just haven't had quite the time to write the things that I want to. But I'm going to share a little thought today.
On December 3, I was overwhelmed, stressed, tense, and all of those other things that Christmas usually ends up being for me. And it was only DECEMBER 3!! And then I was bombarded with the whining of my two little ones. What it comes down to is this...that they needed my attention...my sole-undivided attention. I wasn't doing very well at giving it. I was so worried about gifts for my kids, the treats for the neighbors, the presents for the kids' teachers, the home teacher, the visiting teachers, the letters to write, the food to make, the neighborhood party to plan and every other small detail. To make it short...I felt awful. In frustration I sat down with my two little girls and I put together the train the I inherited from my Grandma Hemingway. Not all of you have been lucky enough in this life to know her; hopefully you will be so lucky in the next. And as I sat with my girls and watched this little train go around and around the tracks (again and again), I was reminded of what a great lady she was. How selfless and serving, so full of love. And as I sat there, I wondered what she would be doing in my place. And at that point, my frustrations started to leave and I knew I was going about being busy with the wrong things.
On this day, I resolved to be a little bit more like my Grandma. I wanted to have a different kind of Christmas. You know, all the presents get taken care of, the treats seem to spread to everyone, and it all works out. Even the people that I want to give gifts to, and don't have enough time to have never stopped being my friend because I didn't give them a Christmas gift. I decided that I was going to give a few different kind of gifts this Christmas season. My first gift was that I pushed aside all the places I had to be, and the shopping I had to do, and I sat on the floor and played with my girls. My first gift of Christmas was to Emma and Leah and it was my time.
Since then, I have had a few more opportunities to serve and give of my time...It hasn't happened every day, but I am looking for an opportunity every single day. And it has made the world of difference in my Christmas.
Why do I write this? Well, maybe for all of you out there, who might be caught up in the stress and the hustle and bustle of Christmas and could use a little pick-me- up, maybe a little reminder of what Christmas is REALLY, REALLY about. The spirit of Christ. Perhaps you too could give a gift--a different kind of gift, and find that you will joy in the spirit of Christmas a little more too.
Merry Christmas!