Christmas!

I love Christmas time...I always have. It is definitely the most wonderful time of the year in my opinion. I love the shopping, baking, decorating..dressing e in cute festive clothes, seeing the lights...and on and on! I think sometimes in my mind I want a Southern Living/Pottery Barn kind of Christmas...you know the scene where everyone is perfectly festive, the house is all a glow, the turkey is plump and on the table, and the snow is covering the ground. Everything in those pictures look so perfect...like the perfect holiday...just as it should be! I was amazed the other day that my 3 year old nephew was so enamored with my Christmas Village! He sat looking at each piece forever...wanting to see the people inside. Sometimes don't you just want to jump into those little villages and camp out! Maybe it's just me!

I came across this poem several months ago and saved it on my computer. I loved the message of it and hopefully it will help me to remember to focus on the true meaning of Christmas!

CORINTHIANS 13 CHRISTMAS VERSION

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never fails.