We need a little Christmas NOW!
I was given a precious gift the other day: The gift of seeing our home project through other’s eyes.
TJ and Ryan from Murray’s flooring came to finish a few things and, because they hadn’t been here in a while, they saw our home in a completely different light than I have been looking at it.
Don’t get me wrong, I am still absolutely grateful for our home and the ability to fix it up, but we’ve been looking at it as an incomplete project: noticing everything we need to FIX instead of seeing it as a project that has come so very, very far.
When the guys came into the house and said “Wow! I can’t believe how good this looks; I thought you were crazy. I couldn’t see the vision for it.”
I was stunned. I had been looking at our house in irritation for all of the “little things” that still need doing and stopped seeing the progress of all of the “big things” we’ve done.
It was an absolute shock to my system…in a good way. As we walked around the house showing them the rooms that they hadn’t seen in months, they kept saying such nice things about the design and the progress. I had lost sight of all of that. They even asked to send a professional photographer to take pictures for their showroom. I told him as long as he gives me time to clean first, sure!
What a blessing their words have been for both me and Jeff. It’s so easy to get bogged down with the “little things” that we lose sight of what really matters. I can’t think of a better time of year to get that lesson. Jesus, the reason for the season, is the “Big” thing. All of us get so overwhelmed with the “little things” that we lose sight of Him in the hustle and the bustle.
When God reminded me of that, I was so overwhelmed with gratitude for the correction. I needed to focus on what matters and not all of the little fiddly bits that are so very minor.
So…in honor of Christmas and the sheer Joy of having a Savior, I am posting my Christmas décor. I’ve been blessed with making ornaments with my mom and shopping for treasures with my friends this holiday season. I’ve been blessed by reading A Christmas Carol (Dickens) and putting out my Christmas Carol ornaments given to me by a dear friend that passed away several years ago. I’ve been blessed by reading the accounts of Jesus’ birth in scripture with Jeff in the mornings and our discussions on how amazing the mere mortals (Joseph and Mary) were for taking on that task and how amazing God is for taking care of them. (Travelling to Egypt ain’t cheap, and the wise men came to warn them and give them traveling funds).
I am grateful for the gift I was given by TJ and Ryan of seeing my house through different lenses. It has been such a needed reminder to focus on the One through whom all things are possible. I hope your Christmas is filled with many blessings too!
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
