Christmas Ponderings

It's getting to be Christmas time, and it makes me think about where our focus is for Christmas,and I don't just mean "is our focus on Jesus or is our focus on ourselves?" As Christians we think the major issue is that people forget what Christmas is about and that is the Birth of Christ. I really don't believe that people forget about Christ, take him for granted maybe, but what they truly forget about is the "love" Christ showed us in coming to earth. Christmas is a time to show our immense love and compassion for our fellow humans. I think all too often we really forget that maybe that girl who was rude behind the grocery store counter, is really going through something tough, perhaps her parents are in the middle of a divorce, maybe her Grandma's dying, or maybe she just lost her best friend, but regardless, we need to look beyond our selfish instincts and show a little compassion.

I'm finding this Christmas difficult this year, and for many reasons, I'm done my Christmas shopping, found some nice gifts, but I'm so not into getting gifts this year. Usually I give my mom a list about 10 miles long, and really truly all I want is to spend it with those people that I love and care about. I feel like so often, we spend so much money on gifts and then spend absolutely no time with those people who we claim to be "close" to.

Christmas is also a time where we look over the last year, and see the changes within our own lives. For me, there have been some huge ones. I've learned that love has no boundaries, but also that Love takes work, it's not just a feeling that you have for another person, it is a deep connection that means spending time with them, listening to them, sharing with them, and ultimately putting your whole trust into that person and putting your heart on the line. Sometimes you get hurt, yet sometimes, it ends up being the best thing you ever did, because when you love someone and you truly care about them, you will learn many things from them. Learning to trust, is a huge thing for me, I have a really hard time opening up to people, but I have found that when you learn to put your heart on the line even just a little, you learn some of the most valuable lessons of your life. For those who are wondering. I'm not talking about "spousal love" I'm talking about friendship, true genuine friendship. I'm talking about loving without conditions, sometimes your family really drives you crazy, but is there anything you wouldn't do for them?
I'm not really sure where I am going with this, other than I am so very thankful for my family and the things that they have taught me, for the have taught me to love, they have taught me to learn, and they have taught me to be all I can be.

To my Family!! I LOVE YOU! To my friends!! I Cherish YOU! To all those in my life!! I wouldn't trade you for the WORLD!! For you are my WORLD!!