As I start the rush to shop for Christmas I feel the anxiety rise…I think of all the people that may present our family with gifts, I dread that awkward moment.   Is there anything worse when you have nothing to hand them? My head spins with all the things my children want and need and yet stay determined to pay cash, or do without.
  I hate the thought of anyone going into debt to purchase us a trinket, I would much rather we all share a meal, and just enjoy each others company.
 I think of most women that I know, stressed out and exhausted during this season. (I love the commercial where the woman presents the perfect
Turkey
dinner to her guests, only to collapse on the
Turkey
from exhaustion as she serves it, I feel her pain!)
  The calendar seems to overflow with parties and commitments, so much so that the parties become “one more thing we have to do”, instead of the celebration it was intended to be.

 
     I took a rare moment the other day while wrapping presents and indulged in my true joy…my Cooking shows on the Food Network.
  I love to be inspired by new recipes and entertaining ideas…however I was shocked and hurt that none of my culinary heroes would refer to this time of year as anything other than “the Holidays”.
  No one would say “CHRISTMAS”, that’s right, the word “Christmas” is apparently too offensive, it does after all imply “Christ” as the focus of the celebration.
  I was truly sad, I found myself in the middle of the wrapping paper weeping and repenting on behalf of my generation.
  All I could think of was our precious Savior, being denied in a new and brutal fashion.
 I am not an old woman, but I clearly remember Christmas being the celebration of the birth of our savior Jesus Christ, and yes, I went to public school.
  I remember singing “Oh Holy Night” right after “Jingle Bells’ in our Christmas (not “winter”) assembly’s.
  No one complained, no one was offended.
 

     Sadly, our children do not know that world.
 This point was further driven home as I sat with all six kids to watch the Christmas classics this past week.
  My teen-agers LOVED Charlie Brown and I was reminded of the world that was very different just 25 years ago.
  If you have not watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special in while, you will enjoy it more than you think.
 Charlie Brown is searching for the true meaning of Christmas, and no one can tell him what that is.
  Then Pig-pen, (blankie and all,) bust out with no fear, and starts preaching the Word of God.
  He literally quotes the book of Matthew and reveals that the birth of Jesus IS the true meaning of Christmas…it is anointed.
  I had forgotten how simple and beautiful the TRUTH sounds when you are hungry for it…

Please take a deep breath, enjoy this time with your family.

   
  We have been sitting around our Christmas tree after dinner and before school to read the word and praying together as a family.
  There is peace in our home, and rejoicing over the birth of our Savior, without Him there is no Joy, there is no hope…