It’s funny how the holiday season makes a giant sap out of me. I guess I’ve got a case of Christmas Spirit! The coziness of the snow blanketed over the trees, the classic Christmas songs playing in the malls, and the glow of decorations and lights – how could you not love it? I get this warm, happy feeling in my heart as I think how blessed I truly am. Don’t get me wrong I have my not-so-warm fuzzy moments as well. Thinking of all the cards I have to write and send out. Making a shopping list of what I need to buy for friends and family, and struggling with what to get them. As well as the handmade items I have yet to finish. I get anxious just thinking of how much time I DON’T have. Like most good things I can find the bad. In it all I like to take step back and readjust my thoughts.
This past week I had a group of friends return home from their trip to Rwanda. They went overseas to help with a project called Home of Hope Rwanda. This is a project that sponsors orphans, widows and gives teaching and work opportunity to the community. The team came back with many stories, and as they reminisced in their experience, you can noticeably hear a change in their voice. It is not sadness neither happiness – rather a seriousness that both the storyteller and listener recognize that their lives have been forever changed.
They told stories of giving baby pigs to families, toys and clothing to children, mattresses for households, food to the hungry, healing the lame, and stories of the broken.
One of the stories that stuck out to me was one Sunday morning they were having a church service outdoors where they were around a hundred people. In the middle of the service it began to pour rain. The only covering near by was a small roof that was held up with long poles on all four corners. As everyone rushed underneath to the cramped confined space, everyone continued to dance, shout and praise God.
Isn’t it beautiful that in the midst of their circumstances their joy and peace is overflowing in their lives? Meanwhile, my peace and joy can be so easily jolted to a stop if I don’t find the perfect gift or if things don’t go my way. My goal this season is to be thankful each day. To love those around me and to not let minor details or first world problems change my attitude. Christmas is about hope, love and celebration. So may we love one another and celebrate each day.
Merry Christmas
-M
This past week I had a group of friends return home from their trip to Rwanda. They went overseas to help with a project called Home of Hope Rwanda. This is a project that sponsors orphans, widows and gives teaching and work opportunity to the community. The team came back with many stories, and as they reminisced in their experience, you can noticeably hear a change in their voice. It is not sadness neither happiness – rather a seriousness that both the storyteller and listener recognize that their lives have been forever changed.
They told stories of giving baby pigs to families, toys and clothing to children, mattresses for households, food to the hungry, healing the lame, and stories of the broken.
One of the stories that stuck out to me was one Sunday morning they were having a church service outdoors where they were around a hundred people. In the middle of the service it began to pour rain. The only covering near by was a small roof that was held up with long poles on all four corners. As everyone rushed underneath to the cramped confined space, everyone continued to dance, shout and praise God.
Isn’t it beautiful that in the midst of their circumstances their joy and peace is overflowing in their lives? Meanwhile, my peace and joy can be so easily jolted to a stop if I don’t find the perfect gift or if things don’t go my way. My goal this season is to be thankful each day. To love those around me and to not let minor details or first world problems change my attitude. Christmas is about hope, love and celebration. So may we love one another and celebrate each day.
Merry Christmas
-M
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