I Didn’t Get What I Wanted For Christmas!

Have you ever thought this to yourself? I have. After spending weeks, even months, making sure everyone else’s Christmas was great, I’ve experienced disappointment. Perhaps I didn’t get the gift I was hoping for or the holidays didn’t turn out to be the perfect “old fashioned” Christmas of which I was dreaming. Maybe it was just exhaustion, but inevitably I would become a big old bag of post Christmas blues!

If you have experienced this I can suggest a two-part cure. The first is preventative (so remember this for next year!) Prepare your heart for Christmas.  Each week on the website during Advent there were articles written by Dana Curtin about the Advent candles. Reading those and adding some studying of my own during the week focused my attention each day on preparing for the real Christmas, which often gets lost in our holiday preparations.

Now that Christmas is over, it’s time for the second part of the cure. Whenever gifts are given thank you notes follow. So, get out your prettiest thank you notes and send the first one to the one who gave you the greatest gift. It doesn’t have to be long. Mine looks something like this:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I didn’t deserve Your gift! How humbling to realize once again how much You loved me before I even knew You. Thank You for taking up residence in my heart, being with me every day. You watch over my family and provide for our needs. Special thanks for my best friend, Pete, and the 32 years we celebrated together in December. I cannot forget our grandchildren–what a JOY!

Father, I also thank you for the difficulties You’ve brought us through, for lessons learned and attitudes changed. I’m grateful for Your creation this time of year, for frosty air and snowflakes. I love to see Your hand at work, love to hear You whisper to my heart. 

I think I know what You would have liked to see under the tree; for me to love You with all my heart, soul and mind. While I may be closer than I was last year, I’m sure we’ll work on that together this year!  Thank You for the true gift of Christmas; for a Savior born to be the sacrifice for my sins. Help me to remember to be thankful each and every day!

I love You Lord!

Debbs

What better way to experience the lasting joy of the season than to be thankful?

(Debbs and Pete, her husband of 32 years, have three grown children. They have great fun with their two grandsons and are looking forward to welcoming a granddaughter soon. Debbs has worked with the Keepers Ministry for the past year as Co-Leader and in Ministry Development.)

Need ideas for New Years Eve? Check out our New Year’s articles for fun family activities! {Look under “Everything Else” on the homepage}

 Be watching for our new series that starts next week!