[Nfbk] The Journey to Christmas

[cindy smith]

Good, good, Joey.

Cindy Smith


On Dec 2, 2011, at 6:42 PM, Joey Couch wrote:

> "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
> twitter.
> http://www.twitter.com/ki4vjd
> facebook.
> http://www.facebook.com/ki4vjd
>
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