For most of us, the recovery has started, maybe even complete. I mean the recovery from the Thanksgiving weekend and all the activity that it entails. It includes travel, cooking, eating way more than we should (I know I did), and for some starting the Christmas shopping.
It used to start at 8:00 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving. Then the stores tried to get a head start and it has continued to move earlier and earlier until now there are stores that began their after-thanksgiving sales at midnight! And even more crazy is that there were many who lined up even earlier than that just to get the gadgets they wanted. It's crazy!
And all of this because of a baby born in a stable?
Well, not really. It is a "Christmas" tradition to share gifts, but it is definitely a cultural thing to "shop til we drop" for those gifts. Somewhere, while I get caught up in it somewhat, Christmas has lost it's luster. It's those of us who seek the peace and hope in Christmas who get pushed out and laughed at. But there are still many of us who want to know the real of Christmas.
And I believe we can still experience it, if we seek it.
Maybe we've wandered away over the weekend or the months that have led here. Maybe we've gotten caught up in the race. This year, I'm not even watching from the grandstands. I'm letting the race go on, while I'm going to focus on what's really important, listening for the voice that gets drowned out at the mall. It's the voice of the Shepherd, calling us back to the stable, telling us what the angels said long ago, "A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master." (Luke 2:10, The Message)
"Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well,
use your decrees to put iron in my soul.
And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!
I’ll recognize the sound of your voice." (Ps 119:175-176, The Message)
That's what I long to hear!
Listen and find,
Peace ><>
pc
1 comment:
I'm one of those crazies who got out on Friday morning at 5:00 a.m., but it is a great day to be with my daughter, daughter-in-laws and sometime during the day with three grandaughters. This has been a tradition for many years. We do it without men hanging over our shoulders. This year we did break a tradition of being at Best Buy first, never again will we not start out there. We started at Kohls, couldn't get what we wanted, so we decided to go to Circuit City since you can go from the mall to it. Bad idea. We stood in line to check out for four hours. We at one time thought we would leave, but daughter said what if we can't get this elsewhere. Most unorganized place I have ever been in(I am writing corporate office to vent). Then as we wait in line we thought there was going to be a big problem as some woman was accused of cutting in line and of course alot of cussing and yell went on from some of the people. I have never experienced that before. What an education also of language as we left the store after 4 hours. We will never go there again.
Anyway after all that I still enjoyed the day and always know that God is with me every step of the way or I wouldn't make it. Yes, let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas and I feel if you look around you will still know what Christmas is all about. PRAISE GOD.
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