Treasures at Christmas

Today marks the beginning of “Winter” and the first day of my Holiday Break. I work for a college and we are closed today through January 1. Whoohoo!

As I sit here drinking coffee and looking at my Christmas tree, I am remembering all the years before and thinking of the years ahead. This will be my 23rd Christmas celebrated in this house. Our first Christmas here we had a 3 1/2 yo and a 4 mo old. Now those two are grown men who have jobs and apartments of their own. Their little sister still lives here, but even she is only “home from college”. I am blessed that they will all be here for not only Christmas Day but I’ll see them a lot for the next few days for various holiday activities. I do not take this time for granted. I know that circumstances will change, variables will be added, and new traditions will take root.

A verse** I was reading this morning really struck home –“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart”. It occurs to me that I too am “treasuring up” all these times and tucking memories away in my heart. I can’t hold on too tightly to my children as they grow up. They each have their own path to follow. While their journey will intertwine with mine because I’m their mother, none of us know what it will look like or where it will take us. This doesn’t make me sad, it makes me grateful for all the memories I’ve got stored up that I’ll be able to reflect on through the years to come.

In this holiday season that tends to bring more opportunities for  “moments” – I encourage you to tuck them away in your heart. Not to use to “long for the past”, but to treasure and give thanks for in the times to come.

Merry Christmas

**Luke Chapter 2, verse 19 NIV