It is almost 11 PM on Christmas Day night as I am starting this post and I wanted to share with you a few things I learned this Christmas.

Of course, having Ella this year was absolutely incredible and even at her young age, she had such a twinkle in her eye as she saw things for the first time.  What a blessing she is to me and how I thank God every time I look at her.  She is growing so fast. Oh, how I don’t want to miss a thing. The time that I have to spend with her is precious, yet so short. Lord, help me to raise her the way that I should and help me to be a Godly example to her.  

Under the tree were many gifts this year with one of those gifts being a Vera Bradley purse and wallet that Carol had been wanting for a very long time.  I watched the surprise on her face when she saw what it was and I immediately knew that I had hit the nail on the head.  Even though she cherishes this gift now, I do realize that in a few short days, weeks or months…the new will wear off and the gift will be forgotten.  What will not be forgotten is the love by which it was given and the love that we share for each other.  Oh, how blessed I am to have Carol and oh how often I take her for granted.  Lord, help me to be a Godly husband and to love her like you love me! 

Christmas day was spent at home…for the first time ever…since we have been married. Carol’s parents and my Dad came up for a Christmas brunch and we had a fantastic time.  Dad and I reminisced about Mom and the blessing that she was.  He brought me a Christmas blanket that Carol and I had bought her and I almost broke.  I caught myself several times thinking, I wonder what Mom would have done here…I wonder if Mom would have liked this…..I wonder if Mom……Oh, how I miss her.  Today was hard.  It was hard for Dad too.  He was opening his gifts and was tearing up…I know he was thinking about his wife of 60 plus years. Their anniversay was December 22.  Dear God, just love on Mom a little extra today and tell her it is from me!

Of all the things that I have learned this Christmas….it is this.  Life is short, family is precious and material things are irrelevant. Many times I find myself wrapped up in doing things for the cause of Christ that I forget to wrap myself up in Christ.   Lord, forgive me for being to busy.

If I could change anything that has happened this year, it would be less time working and more time at home with my family.  Loving them and supporting them and caring for them.

So, in the new year….My prayer is to spend more time with God.  To read His Word, listen for His voice, to do His will.  I also want to spend more time with my girls.  They are both a precious gift and deserve the full attention of their husband and father.

 What a year this has been!  I don’t deserve an ounce of the blessings that I have receive but I am so grateful.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Oh, and by the way,  Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Sheltered,

Curt

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 26th, 2007 at 12:52 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.