When I was a kid, Christmas was my favorite holiday. It wasn't my favorite just because I got gifts (although that was awesome). But there was something about the feel of Christmas and the holiday season. There was just something magical and hopeful about that time of year. I still feel the same way today. I love all the lights, decorations, and music. I love buying people gifts. I love watching Christmas movies and spending time with friends and family.
But this time of year can also be really difficult for people. I know some people don't have anyone to celebrate the holidays with whether because of distance or other circumstances. For others, this time of year brings up bad memories and painful emotions. Some have lost loved ones around this time and it's a constant reminder of their loss. Others are just lonely and wish they had someone special to share it with. Some people are dealing with illness, financial issues, divorce...the list goes on. My heart goes out to each and every one of them. I can only imagine what they must be going through.
We are all broken and struggling with something. Some of us have a lot on our plates, and I think most of us are stressed out in some way. We all have things we wish we could change in our lives. Mix all that together with a holiday that's all about joy and cheer and we get some unhappy Scrooges. I'm not discrediting anyone's emotions or problems, they're important. The thing is, Christmas is not all about us. It's about the birth of Jesus Christ. It's about the fact that God loved us all so much that He sent his Son for us.
I was at church the other night and the worship leader said something that really struck me. She asked us to think about a close friend and how we treat them on their birthday. She said we try to make everything great for them. We don't let other things get us down because we're so busy lavishing them with love and attention. We get them gifts and do things for them to show them how much we care. We give them time-isn't that what most of want? People to just give us some time to show they care about and love us? Then she said this is how we should treat Jesus. This is his birthday. We should be lavishing him with praise and thanksgiving. We should be showing other people love and stop focusing so much on ourselves. We should do that for Jesus. Of course, we should do this all year round. But wouldn't it be great if we all treated Christmas this year as if we're celebrating our best friend's birthday? I think we would all be filled with more joy, peace, and love. And that's my kind of Christmas.
Luke 2:10-11 NKJV "Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
What's My Age Again?
Dear Wondering If You'll Ever Feel Like an Adult,
Remember when you were a kid and couldn't wait to be a "grown-up"? I used to think that there would come a time in my life-whether through some momentous occasion (like having a kid) or a certain age (30), when I would finally feel like an adult. As I've grown older and talked to people that are older, I've realized something. Most of us never really feel like an adult. Parents with several kids still don't feel like they're old enough to have kids. Most of us have adult responsibilities but never really feel like we're actual adults.
I know I feel that way. When I think back on major events in my life that signify growing up (getting my driver's license, graduating from high school and then college, my first job), I remember I never really felt like I was old enough to do these things. I thought "how in the world am I already graduating high school?" or "There's no way I'm old enough to start my career." I think it's because a lot of times I still don't feel my age. I'm 26 and I recently purchased my own car for the first time. My one and only other car was one my parents bought me in high school and I had it for almost 10 years. And while I was buying it, I thought to myself "Wow, I kind of feel like a grown-up right now." (Notice the use of the word "grown-up" indicating I still don't see myself as an adult). I mean, I still love Disney movies and Disneyland (I will probably be the mom dragging her kids to these rather than the other way around). I still have crushes on celebrities. I go to concerts and think "I'll never be too old for this!" (I'll probably be the old lady at concerts). I still feel awkward sometimes in new social situations. I still break out (this is really unfair). I still just act like a big kid.
It's funny how this transfers over to how I think about people I knew when I was younger. In my mind, people stay the same age they were when I knew them. Whenever I hear about people from my high school who are married with kids I think about them as their 16 year old self and say "But, they're too young!" Or what's really mind-blowing is hearing about people I went to elementary school with having kids. I mean in my mind, they're not even old enough to drive yet! I remember going to my close friend's wedding several years ago. It was the first wedding I went to where it wasn't a family member getting married. It was my friend. We're too young to get married!
I think it's a good thing though that a lot of us still feel this way. It keeps us young and helps us hold onto a little bit of our childhood. We should never get too old to be silly or do the things we love just because we're supposedly adults now. I mean isn't it true that the more we age, the more we wish we could go back to being kids? So why not embrace that and maybe try to institute nap time at our jobs?
Remember when you were a kid and couldn't wait to be a "grown-up"? I used to think that there would come a time in my life-whether through some momentous occasion (like having a kid) or a certain age (30), when I would finally feel like an adult. As I've grown older and talked to people that are older, I've realized something. Most of us never really feel like an adult. Parents with several kids still don't feel like they're old enough to have kids. Most of us have adult responsibilities but never really feel like we're actual adults.
I know I feel that way. When I think back on major events in my life that signify growing up (getting my driver's license, graduating from high school and then college, my first job), I remember I never really felt like I was old enough to do these things. I thought "how in the world am I already graduating high school?" or "There's no way I'm old enough to start my career." I think it's because a lot of times I still don't feel my age. I'm 26 and I recently purchased my own car for the first time. My one and only other car was one my parents bought me in high school and I had it for almost 10 years. And while I was buying it, I thought to myself "Wow, I kind of feel like a grown-up right now." (Notice the use of the word "grown-up" indicating I still don't see myself as an adult). I mean, I still love Disney movies and Disneyland (I will probably be the mom dragging her kids to these rather than the other way around). I still have crushes on celebrities. I go to concerts and think "I'll never be too old for this!" (I'll probably be the old lady at concerts). I still feel awkward sometimes in new social situations. I still break out (this is really unfair). I still just act like a big kid.
It's funny how this transfers over to how I think about people I knew when I was younger. In my mind, people stay the same age they were when I knew them. Whenever I hear about people from my high school who are married with kids I think about them as their 16 year old self and say "But, they're too young!" Or what's really mind-blowing is hearing about people I went to elementary school with having kids. I mean in my mind, they're not even old enough to drive yet! I remember going to my close friend's wedding several years ago. It was the first wedding I went to where it wasn't a family member getting married. It was my friend. We're too young to get married!
I think it's a good thing though that a lot of us still feel this way. It keeps us young and helps us hold onto a little bit of our childhood. We should never get too old to be silly or do the things we love just because we're supposedly adults now. I mean isn't it true that the more we age, the more we wish we could go back to being kids? So why not embrace that and maybe try to institute nap time at our jobs?
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