A good time was had by all this weekend. I had the special privilege of visiting my sister and her family in Munster without my husband and children. It was a time to connect and reconnect with each other. The boys had a good time with their dad and grandparents. And I not only got to be with my sister and her family but with my brother and his family on Saturday night at the traditional St. Nick dinner that my sister held.
Traditions are such a wonderful thing. I sure miss my mother and father especially at Christmas time. So to have time with family and to be able to be a part of something larger than myself is a good thing. My mother was all about traditions. She had a way of creating traditions and celebrations that made you feel special. She was able to take simple things and make you feel so lavished and cared for.
My father was a simple and quiet man. Simple in that he didn't require a lot to be satisfied. He wanted things mostly for other people. Not necessarily grand things, but things that were needed. My mother did the majority of the Christmas shopping, but my dad had one job. He was to choose a new Christmas outfit for my mother. He always chose the best. (The best that he could afford). He spent what he had on that one gift. That one special outfit whether it came from the Fashion Shop or Locketts.
My parents did many things that showed me what God was like. Though I may not have realized it when they were doing it, I can look back and see how they exhibited God's amazing qualities. I think of 1 John 3:1 - "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!". We have that love because He sent His Son Jesus as a simple gift of a baby in a manger. God does things in a lavish way and a simple way. He sets us in families and gives us parents, grandparents and others to show us who He really is.
What are your traditions? How are celebrating the Baby Jesus' birth? Are you showing those around you (your children, your friends, your family, total strangers) what God is like? I pray that I am doing that. I pray my boys (God's boys) can one day say "I remember how my parents showed me what God is like".
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2 comments:
Thank you for all your help.
I am sorry that I was so difficult to be with.
I love ya! It was good to be together as a family that is for sure. To have that time so close to Thanksgiving was extra special.
I feel for you and thank God that I had your dad on that day before Christmas Eve when I showed up to your house heartbroken. I always thought it was cool that he brought out photo albums. He sat there and talked to me until you returned from your five hour walmart trip...seriously!! It is hard to be blubbery in front of a friends dad and it really did take my mind off my 'reality'. I do digress...but thanks for jogging memories:)
Your North Central fan club:)
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