Good morning…
As kids age, there are fewer surprises under the Christmas tree. Who wants to be personally responsible for choosing increasingly expensive gifts that will never be worn, never be used, never bring joy? Many times, our young adult kids do not even know what they want until they see it, until they feel it, until the clothes or the shoes or the accessories find fit on their own body.
With fewer Christmas morning surprises this year, I treasured the gift of time with our growing up children. Being quietly together as our car inched through traffic. Talking over a meal as we shopped at the mall. Scrolling through online possibilities together, filtering out ‘yes’s and ‘no’s from the comfort of their own bed. Sharing meals around the dinner table, before they scattered off to sleep at the home of a friend. Worshiping together at the Christmas Eve candlelight service. Sleeping in and opening gifts leisurely on Christmas morn. Serving turkey and fixin’s to the homeless through “Hosea Feed the Hungry,” then napping while our own turkey and fixin’s filled our home with the aroma of love.
As our young adults opened gifts they have already tried on, already used, already worn, I unwrapped memories of our Advent season together. Treasuring time. Being quietly together. Talking over a meal. Scrolling online, filtering “yes”s and “no”s. Dinner table sharing. Worshiping together. Sleeping in leisurely. Serving and napping, filling our home with the aroma of love.
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life, 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT),
Sue
