The reason for the season

My parents have always been so good at making family traditions, we did one this past week that is on the top of the favorite list. We come together for family home evening and we sit in a circle with a nativity in the middle.  We light a candle and we each choose a character from the nativity that we can relate with that year.  It is one of my favorite traditions!  I love that my parents' Christmas traditions really teach us WHO we are celebrating!

Rewind back about a month. I am ashamed to admit, that I had a weak moment thinking about what to get my sweet new hubby for Christmas this year.  Money is tight.  We are students and newly weds.  It is okay that money is tight.  We are not going without anything we need, but there is not lots of money to spend on fancy Christmas gifts.  It is embarrassing that I thought- Christmas is going to be bad this year!  There's nothing that I can afford that is really going to excite him. I know.  So selfish.  So vain.  Immediately, the Spirit slapped me across the face.  I was overcome with emotion and thoughts.  We do not celebrate Christmas in order to give and receive fancy gifts.  It is about so much more than that.  It has changed my entire outlook- thank heavens! I needed a good slap in the face!

So back to the awesome family tradition.  This year, I did something different.  Normally I would choose a Shepherd or a Wiseman.  But this year I chose the barn.  Christ was born in a barn.  A dirty, smelly barn.  With animals and bugs and all things unsanitary- a nightmare for my OCD.  But, this is so symbolic.  His beginning was so humble.  He breathed his first divine breaths in that dirty, smelly barn.  And made his first showing to the world one of jaw dropping humility.

The lyrics to Silent Night have been heavy on my mind this month-
Silent night, holy night.  All is clam and bright. Holy infant- tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace. Glories stream from heaven afar.  Heavenly hosts sing alleluia.  Chirst, the Savior is born!
Son of God, love's pure light.  Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

I am so grateful for his truly humble beginning.  And for the greatest gift of all that he has given us.  I hope to always remember the lesson I have learned this Christmas.

lots of love,
brookeydee