Home for the Holidays

Sitting on a chair located in my room in Saginaw, Michigan, with my laptop resting gently on this desk I know so well, I must say I am thankful. Thankful for a home that I can count on being there when the breaks from college arrive, when my father shows no agitation in having to drive two and a half hours to and from campus to pick me up and bring me back safely. To have a warm home to sit and rest in is a gift from God. I'm typing on a laptop, a piece of equipment myriads of people do not own. I am extremely blessed. 

I'm currently reading Skipping Christmas by the renowned author John Grisham. I have not completed 60 pages, but I already have learned lessons from this book that is a film adaptation entitled Christmas with the Kranks. To avoid Christmas and its materialistic, consumer-filled madness is what Luther, the husband of the main couple, desires to do. He plans a cruise with his wife, Nora, to the Caribbean. Their plan is to leave on Christmas Day, without putting up one decoration or caving into spending the thousands of dollars that they squandered on this holiday in past years. They still intend to reflect on the main reason for Christmas while also intending to wholly avoid the lavish spending on gifts that will possibly be thrown out of sight in a week or never even touched.

While flipping the pages of Skipping Christmas, I cannot help but become more thankful for what I have in my life right at this instant, ten days before I know I am going to be pampered with even more gifts. You and I both need to be content with what we own. Though it would be difficult to do because I love presenting others with gifts, I think it would be such a beneficial experience to avoid shopping and the materialistic mania of Christmas one year. I could use the time to dig deeper into my Bible, learn more about the true, genuine Christmas story, and make handcrafted gifts with materials and items that I currently own. Several people admire the fact that you actually personally construct their gift rather than rush to a store and hastily purchase a present. Developing friendships and growing together in Christ is worth substantially more than any gift you will receive this Christmas.

On Christmas Day, I will do my utter best to be happy with each and every gift I receive. If it's a piece of clothing that I don't think I will insert myself into, I will still give my thanks to whoever bought me the item. There is an inexplicable amount of other things in life to be looking forward to other than a few gifts to rip open on the morning of the celebration of Jesus' birth. I think about the needy, starving, thirsting, penniless, hurting, hopeless, and distraught people in this world that we share, and it's unbelievable how wealthy I am, regardless of how much money my parents and I make in any given year. I pray that God will touch each and everyone's life in one way or another this holiday season and beyond. God's goodness is unfathomable. Search for it, find it, and spread His light.

There is absolutely no reason why I shouldn't be sporting a smile on Christmas Day and every day that God so graciously grants me.

Peace and love.