Day 347; Footnotes of Seeking the Reason for the Season

This year, there won’t be anything under our Christmas Tree. I have a small gift for my son, but it will fit in his stocking. Does this bother me? In all honesty, in a way yes. No matter how old your kids get, you want to give them a special Christmas. So no son, don’t look for that new Playstation, it isn’t happening.

This year, we’re believing in that Christmas doesn’t come from a store. My son is an adult. He could have, some would think, should have, been out and away long before now. But he holds a full time job, a good job. He has a life. But while he’s paying off student loans, he lives here. I’m in no hurry to push him out.

 He keeps my car in working order. He helps with stuff like plumbing and working on appliances and out in the yard from time to time. He is a big help to me, doing things I would have had to pay someone else to take care of for me.

So this year, while the lights on the house and on the tree brighten up the place, I will acknowledge the gifts that I won’t find at any big box store or online store for that matter. No one is going to pull into my drive and hand me a box of any of these.

 My home isn’t big or fancy, but its dry and its warm. It has plenty of room for me and my son, two dogs and a really strange cat. It needs work, a lot of work, but step by step my son and I are getting things done. 

We live in a rural area that gives us privacy and plenty of room to hike. We can watch the wildlife and listen to the dogs bark at the wildlife. 

We have plenty of food, my son may not like it all, but we won’t go hungry.

 We have family all around us. We will never be lonely or without a helping hand.

 We have our health. Yes we have dealt with Covid and came out the other side. Its real, but thankfully our bout was not one of those that sent anyone to the hospital. 

I have these two silly, spoiled, much loved dogs that keep me company and protect their yard. From you know, squirrel, deer, stray cats and well, dark.

 I have warm clothing and clothing that will keep me dry. 

I have friends who are always ready with a kind word and helping hand. Or chain saw when the need arises or would that be falls? (As in tree on car)

We have plenty of gifts and blessings. They won’t be wrapped and under the tree, but they are there, they are known, and they are appreciated. Especially the most important gift. The gift of a Lord who came here, to save, to forgive, to love. To bring salvation and teach compassion. To give a love that can’t be matched. A love like none other. A love and life eternal.

There is no better gift than that.