[Nfbk] The Journey to Christmas

[Joey Couch]

"The Journey to Christmas"

The month of December is a time of joyful anticipation. The sights,
sounds, and smells of the season evoke feelings of excitement and
wonder. For generations, children—and grown-ups—have used advent
calendars and paper chains to count down the days. But does our focus
ever become so fixed on the future that we forget to enjoy the journey
to Christmas?

This year, instead of just looking forward, let’s also take pleasure
in the preparations: in the little, less spectacular moments along the
way, even in the spontaneous joys that may, at first, seem like
interruptions to our bigger plans. In order to recognize those moments
for what they could be, it sometimes helps to slow things down a bit.
We may need to shop less and savor more. We might have to dim the
bright lights in order to see the stars in the heavens, but if we
look, we will find them.

Often it takes a child to redirect our focus. Think of how much
children enjoy the present moments, the preparations, and not just the
finished products. When helping to decorate the home, wrap presents,
or bake Christmas treats, they usually make more of a mess than we
would; they might not do it just right, but they also usually enjoy
the moment more than we do! Their enthusiasm can be contagious.

A three-year-old girl, wholeheartedly living in the present,
exclaimed: “It’s not tomorrow! It’s not today! It’s to-now!” When was
the last time you felt “to-now”?

Yes, we are busy. But the days leading to Christmas are not just to be
endured. In fact, perhaps they offer more of what the season is really
about. The promise of Christmas is everywhere to behold. It’s not
saved for Christmas morning. If we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and
hearts to open, we truly can enjoy the journey to Christmas.








-- 
Joey Couch
phone 606-216-8033.
email ki4vjd at gmail.com
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