The 3rd (and last) of My Christmas Thoughts

One thing that I appreciate about my family is that holidays are not the only time we all get together. There are a lot of us and a lot of different personalities, but we can all happily spend a day together. Granted, I think that all of us are happy that we don't live under the same roof!

Some of the children wanted to sit at the adult table. Maybe we'll have to figure out how to connect the "children's" table to the "adult" table in an L shape because there is not much more floor space to lengthen the table!

This year we had our meal before presents. Before giving gifts, we sing a carol and listen to my Dad read the Christmas story. This year Dad had an extra spiritual gift to give us this year. It's worth sharing! You may be familiar with the parable of the prodigal son. There are two sons in the story, one older and one younger. The younger son squanders his early inheritance in wild living and comes home to his Father asking only to be a servant. The Father, however, opens his arms and welcomes his son home and orders a welcome home party to be thrown. This makes the older son, who has stayed with his Father and "followed the rules", angry.

Now many in my family, including me, identify with the older brother and what Dad wanted to show us was the Father's response to the older brother's anger. In the message, "Son, you don't understand, "You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours." (Luke 15:14-15). Everything the Father (God) has is ours. God has salvation, peace, joy, health, healing, prosperity. God stands ready to give. It is up to us to open our arms and receive. Dad continued, "And this is how God showed us that everything is ours in the most significant way... and he read the story of Jesus' birth from Luke 2.

And this is what the children looked like. Maybe I looked that way on the outside too, but I've remembered--Everything God has is mine.

Then just like that we move to presents! Aunt Meghan gave Isaiah cookies. He at the entire container for supper. It was Christmas...that's my Mommy justification. lol.

There were lots of smiles!

We honor Great Gramma by getting her picture of all the kiddos lined up with their gift from her. (Isaiah was sleeping.)

After the children have received all of their gifts, we send them off with their new toys and the adults give gifts. Ezra found his way back to the living room when we were almost finished and he enthusiastically helped Grandad and Great Gramma open their gifts. We were all laughing so hard. Grandad opened a gift card and Great Gramma opened a skirt. Ezra was not particularly impressed at all.