A Christmas To Remember

This Christmas is going to be one I remember forever. Its a bittersweet one. I won’t be cuddled up next to my man looking at our tree, talking about what ministries and families we are going to give to for Christmas. I won’t be hearing how excited he is about eating his Mimi’s famous pecan pie and cornbread dressing. He won’t be beside me opening up gifts and laughing at family inside jokes. He won’t be holding our baby who is experiencing his very first Christmas, or watch our toddlers as they play with their little nativity. He isn’t reading our advent book each night and talking to my boys about preparing our hearts for Christmas.

BUT:

I am going to remember that this Christmas is Patricks best Christmas yet. He isn’t worried about this earthly time, he is just worshiping Jesus, and I can do the same, worship the Prince of Peace, Immanuel, I am just in a different location, not with the Lord. But The Lord is with me. What a privilege to be able to worship freely the only One who brings Hope to our lives!

I will remember how the name Immanuel means “God with us” and how He is so present with me as I miss my beloved. I will find comfort in that.

I will remember that Christmas is about Jesus. How He came to live, die and conquer death and give us life. That is always something that is worth praising the Lord for. He came for us. He died for us. He is good to us and abundant in His mercy towards us.

I will remember how God is using the body of Christ and the generosity of His people to encourage our hearts, provide for us and hold our hands as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

I will remember how loved my children are by everyone around us. Most of all how much the Lord loves us and how He cares and hurts for us. How He knew before they were born that they would be fatherless, and how He would be their Father God.

I will remember to be SO thankful for the amazing and godly husband that God gave me. Marriage is a treasure and a gift and I feel so blessed to have been able to experience it with the best husband for 4.5 years. I will thank God for that always. What a gift!

I will remember that gifts, parties, romance and food aren’t what matters. Christ was born to redeem us and HE is to be exalted above all this Christmas.

I will remember my baby saying “da da” for the first time and his daddy isn’t here to listen to him talk. But oh what a gift that precious little soul is to me. Praying he will always use his words and voice to bring praise the name of Jesus. I will be thankful that he had a good godly daddy and that God allowed his first little sounds to be his name. He has no idea how blessed he is to have the legacy God gave him with his daddy.

Above all I just want to remember Jesus. He is present, with us, cares for us and sees all that is going on in my heart and life. He was enough last Christmas and He is enough this one too. My Christmas may look different this year but its a Christmas worth remembering, because the gift of Jesus is enough.