Every year I promise myself that THIS Christmas season will be different. That I will be less frantic and more focused on enjoying the season and the reason for the season. And yet, this year, as in years past. I feel like I fell so short of that mark.
Our December was busy with piano recitals, Christmas parties (classroom, church, dance, family, etc.), family gatherings along with dodging snowstorms, regular homework and daily chores that had to be done.
I did all of my shopping on line this year, so that helped, but as the end of the year approaches, I see that I did indeed finish the season just as frantic as I did last year...actually more so.
However at the end of the day, Jacinda declared it the best Christmas ever, so I guess I will take that as a stamp of approval and just try to apply some lessons learned to next year.
You see what is important to me is that Jacinda understand the true meaning of the season and I think she does. She gets that Jesus was born and I know she is really close to making a decision to truly accept Him as her Savior. As someone who has spent most of my adult life in children's ministry in one form or another...some people may think it strange that she hasn't already done that. And while we have had the discussions about this life-changing choice...I want to make sure she truly UNDERSTANDS what is involved and isn't just following along blindly because it is something she feels I want her to do or because the other kids in her class at church have done it. I am OK with her questioning it, because I did and while my questions at times irritated my Sunday School teachers and left some leaders in my church shaking their heads at my insistence on answers, I know God never was angry or irritated with me for asking those questions. My questions gave Him room to work and make Himself real to me in a way that I now know why it is I believe what I believe.
What is most important to me as a believer has nothing to do with religion, that's where we get into trouble and I think that is where we lose our kids. I want Jacinda to have a relationship with Jesus and to see my own relationship with the Lord in practice. I want her to understand that choosing to be a Christian isn't always an easy choice, but it is a worthwhile one. I want God to be real to her and for her to understand that SHE was made for a purpose. I want her to know, feel, believe and live like she has something to do in her life that no one else but her can do. Because I believe that if as a young child, she can begin to live her life like that, then nothing will stand in her way. But most of all when she makes her public confession, gets baptized, etc. I want it to be more than a momentary, ceremonial rite of passage. I want it to be a life-changing, life-molding event that will forever affect who she is and the choices she makes. And I am praying that the Lord will make me a mother who does CHRISTmas a little better throughout the year and inspires her to make that decision in 2011.
