If It’s Monday, It’s
Mama……Living with “Child-like Wonder”
One of my
favorite Bible verses is found in Matthew 18:3
“And he said:
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like
little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
I love this verse….clearly, our Heavenly Father places great
value on the little ones of this life if he conditions our very entry into
heaven on becoming like a little child. Clearly,
HE knows that if we can grow and maintain a child-like heart, we will grow and
maintain a Godly Spirit because you can’t get much closer to heaven than when
you are in child-like state.
I love this Holiday Season….Christmas in particular, because it brings
out the little child in all of us…
When I
remember our family’s Christmases, the tears come to my eyes….I clearly
remember each of you and your brother’s first Christmases. What a morning of magic and wonder as we
watched our little babies (you were 8 months your first Christmas and your
brothers were 7 months on their first Christmas) sitting under our Christmas
tree’s twinkling lights….eyes are bright and shiny….hands clapping….laughter
and giggles abounding! Precious,
precious.
Memories….sweet,
sweet memories….memories which will carry us through all the days of our lives…
In
many families, once the children are grown, the traditions they had leave as
well…but, not in our family. We will not
only honor those past traditions (Christmas newsletter, lighting of the outdoor
tree, Christmas music in November, drawing names, opening a gift on Christmas
Eve, twinkle lights in your bedroom, and the list goes on and on…) but we are
starting many new ones which will represent our new family….and, new family
traditions…cutting down a live tree, lights on the big tree at the front of our
house which all our neighbors enjoy, etc.
Things we will pass down to your children…and to your children’s
children….our family’s legacy of remembering to become like little Children.
This
year we are adding two new traditions….”Elf on the Shelf”….I am excited as we
think up things our Elf, Mistletoe Jewel, will bring to our family…and another
new addition…serving at the Women’s Shelter on Christmas Day. I can think of no greater joy than to share
our Christmas with those Mamas and young children who are alone, homeless and
who need hugs and lovins. What a great
gift to our family to be the arms, and hands, and eyes of God to His children….I
can already imagine the sweetness we will feel on Christmas day….in giving of
ourselves…
You
are and always have been a giver, Madison.
Even when you were little, you were a child who shared...toys when you
were little, rides when you started to drive, your home when you became an
adult. You share yourself in very sweet
and tender ways…
Like a little child…
I am
so very proud of your child-like heart…it is one of my greatest delights to
watch you live out your life…giving, sharing, hugging, loving on others.
While
it is appropriate that you grow and mature and make wise decisions as you plan
your life….it it equally important that you maintain that child-like heart
whose desire it is to serve God andis children…remembering that God is Love
and that children are the ultimate love-givers.
So,
Baby….laugh, frolic….be joyful…
Sing,
dance and make merry….
And
celebrate this life God has given us…
And,
always….always….always
“become like HIS little children…”
For it
is in being His little child that you find the ultimate gift of Christmas…and
life….
IN HIM…..
Blessings,
ILYAOYMC,
Mama
