Christmas Spirit

Okay, okay, so back to reality. I had 2 weeks off of school and still didn't manage to get a lot done. Christmas was beautiful as always. Lauri and I went to both Christmas Eve services at church. I look forward to it every year. At the end all the lights are turned off. Each of us are given a candle at the beginning of the service and when the lights go out our candles get lit. During this process we all sing Silent Night. It's so beautiful and every year I can't help the tears from welling up in my eyes. Christmas day we spent with my family after I got off work at noon. I love my family. It's so fun to spend time with them. We had a great time playing games and visiting. Christmas night it snowed so much that were were stuck. After an hour and a half of plowing with the tractor my dad was still not to the bottom of the driveway. Needless to say, we spent the night... what an adventure.

This holiday season I've been reminded of something I'm familiar with but somehow often forget. I'm sure this will sound silly, but I've been reminded of how important it is to love one another. We get so busy in our own hustle and bustle that we forget that we're here to love our neighbor and to love God. I think this means we should have compassion on others and forgive when we are wounded. So, why then do we forget this simple truth? Why do anger or frustration or discontentment come to our minds first? Well, a few years ago we did a Christmas program that talked about how we could live with Christmas 365 days a year. If it were only that simple. If I could just keep the spirit of Christmas with us throughout the year maybe I love and compassion and forgiveness would be my first responses. Here's hoping, and I guess this is my first new years resolution: To Keep Christmas In My Heart All Year Long.