In just a few days my favorite holiday will be here and it will be over in a flash. All the time we spent preparing and all the presents we have wrapped will be opened and hopefully, the kids won’t be bored with their new toys yet. But it will be over and a new year will be just around the corner. Christmas is my favorite holiday because my love language is giving. I love to see people’s faces light up when they open the present I carefully choose just for them. It’s hard to explain the joys that giving brings me. I know I get it from my parents and grandparents because they are the most giving people I have ever met. I know I’m in my 30’s but if I can grow up to be just like them with a giving spirit I will have a full life! 

As I approach all our Christmas celebrations this year I want to make sure I’m present. And no not a gift to people, but being fully engaged with whatever is going on. I want to set my phone down and be with my family. Whether we are building gingerbread houses or putting batteries in the toy that is super loud, that will probably mysteriously lose those same batteries a few days later…. (Does that just happen to my kids??)

 The book I’m currently reading is Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist. I am actually reading it in a book club with some awesome women! The author hits home time after time and now I catch myself not being present because I’m trying to be perfect. So I quickly readjust to be fully present and that is what I want to do during all the Christmas celebrations this year! 

I want to encourage you to be present as well. All the meals will get prepared and the house will get cleaned, but if your kid comes up to you and asks you to play the new game they just got with them. Here is your reminder “the dishes can wait, but you will never get this moment back.” 

I pray that this blog today was an encouragement to you and can help in your daily life. Always know I am available to pray with you or just be someone to talk to when life gets hard. E-mail me at megan@churchanywhere.us if you need prayer! 

Talk to you next Monday! MERRY CHRISTMAS!