All days are precious gems to be treasured, but there is something especially sweet of this day, CHRISTMAS day.  For while we don’t know the full details of Jesus’ birth, we have set this day aside to celebrate it.  And, not only do we celebrate His birth, but we celebrate our time with one another, and I cannot help but believe that makes HIM smile.

As I sit here at my desk writing in the early am hours awaiting the arrival of my blonde haired angel-daughter who will be coming in from work, I have such a sense of joy come over me…

I am blessed….

I am blessed with a husband who has loved me since I was thirteen years old, and who has loved me in such a way that I am able to understand how “Christ loves the church.”

I am blessed with three children who daily remind me of God’s love, God’s compassion and God’s grace.  They point me to Jesus with their lives…..the remind me for whom I live and that without whom, I would not live.

I am blessed with a “deposit in heaven” who, even in his un-life on this earth, points me and my children to the heavenly life with God.

I am blessed with a mother, father and host of siblings and nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins who call me to a high bar of love and compassion.

The blessings flow and flow in my life and in that of my family…

…..all because of a CHILD who was born to save a people for eternity.

Gratefulness fills my heart and spirit for that child….and that mother….and that father.

All days, but especially today……HIS day…..CHRISTmas day.

It is the non-wrapped gifts we will give one another today which will be our greatest gift to that CHILD’s life….

Unconditional love, compassion, laughter, joy

Reaching out to the needy, the hurt, the dying

Praying over the sick, the lost, the weak

Rejoicing with the saved, the seeking, the sensitive

Being grateful for the time shared together, the hands held in prayer, the food to fill our tummies

Spending time with those we live apart from

Remembering those who protect our homeland so we can celebrate in peace

Our leaders, their followers

And ultimately, it is the sharing of HIS GOOD NEWS to those who might otherwise not hear it through our thoughts, our actions, our lives….

It is such a smallish thing our God asks of us….

“Love One Another”…….

And yet, It is His greatest commandment….

Because God is love….His son is love….

They exist to teach us to love….

So, as we celebrate this Christmas Day….

My prayer is that our time spent today is humbly love one another…

In all ways, always (borrowed from my brother Jay)

Blessings,

Lesa