a little thought to share

Josh's sweet Aunt Holly send me this Max Lucado devotional yesterday.

I thought it was just wonderful and wanted to share it with y'all.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

God's Great Gifts

Thanks be to God for his gift

that is too wonderful for words.

2 Corinthians 9:15

Why did he do it?  A shack would have sufficed, but he gave us a mansion.  Did he have to give the birds a song and the mountains a peak?  Was he required to put stripes on the zebra and the hump on the camel?...Why wrap creation in such splendor?  Why go to such trouble to give such gifts?

Why do you?  You do the same.  I've seen you searching for a gift.  I've seen you stalking the malls and walking the aisles.  I'm not talking about the obligatory gifts...I'm talking about that extra-special person and that extra-special gift...Why do you do it?  You do it so the heart will stop.  You do it so the jaw will drop.  You do it to hear those words of disbelief, "You did this for me?"

That's why you do it.  And that's why God did it.  

Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way.  

Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, "Do you like it?  I did it just for you."

(Max Lucado, the Great House of God)

the most wonderful time of the year

Christmas has been in full swing around our house since the day after Thanksgiving!  All of the fall decorations took their place back in the attic, and the lights and garland adorned the mantel.  Josh had a fun experience hanging the lights on our house for the first time...  And our tree has been quite a pest, to say the least.  THE tree was selected, brought home, centered perfectly in its base, lit and decorated.  Only a few minutes later we noticed that it was leaning a little to the right.  The tilt was fixed, only to find it laying on the couch the next morning.  So, sweet Josh came home and fixed it on his lunch break.  It fell again right after he left.  All in all the tree has fallen 5 times...next year we are getting a smaller tree.  But for now, my ingenious husband rigged wire and bolted it into the window sills to hold it in place.  The tree still leans a tad bit forward.

No matter which direction the tree is leaning or whether its standing straight up or against the window, Cade is absolutely fascinated by the bright lights and ornaments.  He could sit/lay in front of the tree all day and stare at the pretty colors!  He is our inspiration.  Our prayer has been that we would find as much wonder and excitement in celebrating Christmas as Cade does.  How fulfilling to celebrate Jesus' birth with a wonder-filled heart.  We've been reading a chapter of Luke every night to focus our hearts on the real reason of Christmas.  Yes, lights, garland, trees, ornaments, cookies, and presents are wonderful things, but the reason for all of it is to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  The biggest birthday celebration of the year!  I pray that you too will be filled with awe and wonder as you and your family celebrate the real reason for CHRISTmas.

Here are some pictures of our little gift...
punkin.

 wonder.

 

 

 Lots of packages have been arriving at our house lately, so Cade got to play in the peanuts!

 

Merry Christmas!
Love, The Meeh Fam