Christmas, Christmas time is here.....???

"It wouldn't be Christmas without xyz"
How often have you heard this or a similar exclamation from friends,family,and complete strangers?
Your answer should be "Well,yes, yes it would be."

Whether you have a real tree, a fake tree,  or no tree....the angel STILL appeared to Mary all those years ago and told her a baby would be  born of her virgin's womb

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus" Luke 1:30-31

Whether you bake Christmas cookies or put up lights, it doesn't change the fact that Jesus came to be our bread and our light...

I think it's sort of funny that we think we are stressed at Christmas time.
What about Mary, the mother of Jesus? Don't you think she was stressed despite being blessed? She was a pregnant, unwed teenager, in a day and time when that was an unheard of, stoning offense.
She had to travel,at full term, to a far away city, on the back of a donkey.
She was then turned away from every inn because there was no room for them.
She gave birth in a dirty stable, which experts believe was little more than a cave or rock shelter.
She then had to flee to Egypt, again  probably on foot, or donkey, with a small baby.
But we're stressed because the mall parking lot is full? Or the hot toy of the year is sold out?
And yet, look how she responds in spite of those stressors...

38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

• Luke 1:46-56: The Magnificat: Mary's Song of Joy and Praise of Yahweh

46 And Mary said,
47 "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness (tapeinosen) of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly (tapeinous);
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

REALLY people?

This woman gave birth to a son whom she knew would die to save others. She gave birth, knowing she would watch him die.
What a sacrafice, what emotions must have flooded her as she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in that manger.
Mary chose to focus on her blessings, not her stressors.



I'm sorry if I'm being scattered, or redundant, but I just think it is so so so silly to get stressed over Christmas.

And what about the hundreds of thouands of homeless people here in America. Don't you think those parents  want to give their kids a Christmas? Or a meal?

I heard a quote last night on t.v. and the man said "We are all only 4 or 5 bad  decisions away from being homeless ourselves" It really hit me by how true that was. (It was on Hoarders if you are wondering)

Instead o being stressed, why not bless someone else this season?
We don't have alot, but we have donated to the angel tree (a program through the Salvation Army if you are unfamilar that gets presents to kids in need), donated a goat in my father in law's name to help a needy family (milk, meat, and money can all come from a single goat!) My father  in law is a goat rancher as a "hobby", and is impossible to buy for, so instead of stressing over finding him "the perfect gift", I helped a less fortunate family, with a donation that was meaningful to him.
I am also donating a couple of blankets to Project Linus. (google for more info)
Next time you start to feel stressed, try listing your blessings instead, you may find you have more to be greatful for than you have to be stressed about!

So, how about you? Are you CHOOSING to be blessed or stressed this Christmas?