The Holidays

It is a joyous time of year. A time when the holidays are upon us and we look forward to spending time with those that we love. It is when we take the time when we decorate and celebrate the Holidays. There seems to be a spring in our step as we prepare to celebrate family and friends. When we all come together, and share with one another freely.
It is more than the Holidays though, it is Christmas time, a time in today’s society that has become more about the last minute shopping, Santa, hanging of stocking by the fire place, putting the new wreath on the door. Oh and don't forget the lights.  We put the lights on the trees, bushes and on the outside of the house as well. The nativity scene that we set beneath the Christmas tree to help remind us what it exactly we are celebrating. We spend so much time preparing, baking and shopping, wrapping, cleaning that it is easy to lose the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is a time of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior. It is a time when we give thanks to our Heavenly Father for the gift of His son Jesus. When we sit at church / mass and listen to story of how Jesus is born, the wonder of the marvelous story of a virgin giving birth and a man willing to marry her even though she was with child prior to any relations. Something that was nearly unheard of was a man that would stand at her side proudly. It is a story of a gift that was given to all of us.

Christmas is about us celebrating His birth, where we take the time to give a small piece of ourselves to another in a form of a gift. The time that we put into the selection and wrapping of the present. Much like the Heavenly Father giving Jesus to Mary and her wrapping him to lay in the manger for the world to see Him. It is a precious gift.

It is that of a Lord and Savior that cares and loves us no matter what, a Lord that forgives and forgets. A Lord that remembers no wrong doing; a Lord that loves you so deeply that he see every tear that you shed. It can be in public or in the privacy of the bedroom. He sees your pain, your hurt and is there to comfort you with His loving arms and His Words of Comfort. He knows you intimately, so much so that He knows every hair that is on your head, even those that have fallen out. He knows the inner working of your heart, he sees your dreams, your pain, your deep hidden pain that you are afraid to share, and He knows the shame that you hold in your heart. He is there and knows you, and is willing to help you, guide you through that pain, shame and bring you to the side of joy and freedom. His Love is never ending and is ever present to you if you simply cry out to Him.

His forgiveness and love is always there and the door is always open to you, knock and it will be opened and you can walk into the arms of Jesus the true gift of Christmas. Sit in His love and find that eternal peace.