Christmas

     I love Christmas, the lights, the food, the excitement, and most of all the thought that God would give His son to save us...the greatest gift of all.  In our home we dont go too crazy with the Christmas shopping, and try to keep the kids focused on the true meaning of Christmas, but we do exchange gifts.  I loved watching the kids open theirs, especially little Yixi as this was her first Christmas in the US. As I watched these little ones open their gifts last night, a  used stuffed animal wrapped up by an eight year old, and given to her little brother in love, a cd that a 12 year old worked stacking firewood to buy for his 11 year old brother, some legos that a 10 year old used her own Christmas money to buy for her 5 year old brother, ect  I was overwhelmed by the little acts of love, by the true meaning of Christmas, and by the fact God blessed me with the incredible honor of raising these little ones.  When the Bible says children are a blessing from the Lord, there is no other way to describe them.  So often people tend to see children as a burden, hoping the 18 years they are raising them go quickly.  They sadly miss out on the most incredible opportunities to guide and shape their little lives, into amazing men and women of God.  The most incredible gift we can give our children at Christmas? The message of God's gift, and God's love for them displayed in our actions.