More than enough

Christmas is upon us. Somehow it crept up on me again this year. 💚

This week, there was a discussion at work about buying gifts for our children and a co-worker mentioned a concern about buying those gifts. I've experienced the exact feeling so I think it must be pretty common. He stated that when he thinks he's done shopping he keeps going over in his mind, "Well, maybe I should get them this or that..." So, he buys more gifts. Then he said even when it's said and done and he's completely finished shopping, he worries about what he bought them and wonders, "Is it enough?"

Sadly, it puts a lot of stress on parents. We don't want to disappoint our kids. We want to give them everything they dream of receiving for Christmas and more. Sometimes, that's difficult and expensive.

I admit this year, for whatever reason, I've found it difficult to feel the heart of Christmas. That feeling that I love so much that's not found in decorations, shopping, cooking or even celebrations and parties. I've felt a little bit like Cindy Lou Who singing the song, "Where are you Christmas?"

This morning we went to a breakfast at a friend's house that they have every year on Christmas Eve before we went to church. I developed a headache and almost decided to skip church and go home. But I popped some Ibuprofen and we headed to the busiest service of the year at Long Hollow Baptist Church.

Finally, it was there amidst thousands of worshipers singing a simple Christmas song that I finally found my heart this Christmas. My emotions overwhelmed me in thankfulness and love for the child who came to give us everything.

There were no thoughts of whether our gifts to our children this Christmas are enough or not because what He gave us is more than enough. These three words that I've had on my mind all week were also used by Pastor Robby in his sermon this morning. 💜

Thank you God for your perfect plan in all things. Thank you for giving us the perfect gift that is MORE than enough.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV 

Closing Doors

A couple of weeks ago, I took my daughter-in-law to the mall shopping for a new dress. After we looked around and didn't find anything she cared for, we decided to go to a different store down the road.

Somehow, as we were getting into the car to leave the mall, I shut the car door on my left foot as I was climbing inside the vehicle. I yelped in pain and grabbed my boot-clad foot stunned that I slammed the door shut on my own limb. 

Finally, the pain subsided enough to drive and I had to laugh at myself. I couldn't remember ever doing that before. Why did I think I should close the door before I was all the way inside of the car? The top of my foot turned purple to remind me of my clumsiness.

Last weekend, I stepped outside onto the deck to feed my poor, hungry cat who stared at me through the glass every time I walked by. As I stepped back inside the house after feeding her, I shut the patio door on my left pointer finger. 

I grabbed my finger writhing in pain and immediately it became numb, swollen and turned purple. Luckily, it wasn't broken. 

Wait...
Didn't I just do this same careless thing less than two weeks ago to my left foot? (Which, by the way, just healed up and the color is back to normal.) Why am I closing doors on myself and causing my own pain? 

Most of us have heard the phrase, "When God closes a door - He opens a window." It's really a nice thought and I wish I would have coined the phrase. 😉 But what about when we close the door? And it hurts...

Sometimes we do this in life. We try to exit before we should. Maybe we're hurt, angry or just plum tired and we can't take it any more. It could be a job, marriage or even giving up on a dream. Have you ever closed a door that should have been left open?

Closing doors in life is usually a difficult decision but closing it before we should can be more painful. (Just ask my left foot and pointer finger...lol)

But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. AKJV

God advises us to wait for Him. If we wait, we will be strengthened. Then we will know when to close the door. Or maybe leave it open. ❤