Favorite Christmas Moments

Christmas brings with it lots of wonderful things. Festivities, shopping, parties, and presents! If I think about this Christmas season, I can think of LOTS of things that I enjoyed. But if I had to pick my favorite moments, it wouldn't be the fun and fellowship of the Christmas parties or the beautiful new watch Johnny gave me for Christmas. It would be the experience of seeing Christmas through Parker's eyes!

See, last night as we were preparing to leave for our church's Christmas Eve service, Parker ran to his room to get some money to put into the church offering. Grayson saw him do this and decided that he, too, wanted to give to God. When the plate was passed, I watched the look on their faces as they put their money in the offering. Their eyes danced, and they had huge smiles on their faces! JOY! Pure JOY! I saw them live out 2 Corinthians 9:7 which says, Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. What a blessing to experience the Joy of the Lord at such young ages!!

Then, this Christmas morning, as we were tearing into our stockings, Parker brought me the Bible. He had it opened to Matthew 1:18. He said, "we should read the Christmas story before we open our presents." His dad and I encouraged him to read it to us, so he began...."This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" which means, "God with us." When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."

Wow! Our 10-year old "gets" it. It's not about the presents. It's about the birth of Christ. And he not only knows this, he lives it, and is an encouragement to his siblings and those around him.

Parker is a blessing and a joy, and he has definitely added to my favorite Christmas moments!