Tis the Season for Gratitude: A monthly series dedicated to spreading a little bit of joy and gratitude around blogland. A gentle reminder that a grateful heart is what this season is all about! We hope you join us this month to help spread the Holiday cheer as we share stories, crafts, photos, and even a giveaway! :)
HAPPY DECEMBER SWEET FRIENDS! I am so excited for today for so many reasons.
1. Its December. December is the best month.
2. December is Christmas AND my birthday. Boom.
Double Whammy.
3. Today is the first day of a month long series I'm doing
with 3 amazing blogland friends - Sheila, Susan and Kelley. Every Monday one of
us will post something holiday related while the others will link to their
post. Today is the first day and guess what? I'M UP! Along with some photos from Matt and I's first Christmas as an old married couple :)
One
thing I love about this time of the year (among about 50,000 other things) is
the sense of joy in the air. I think everyone smiles a little wider, hugs
a little longer and shares more freely around Christmas. It just has that
feel good time-ness about it. Leaves you feeling like you helped someone
out.
But there is
something else that tends to show up this time a year – something not so warm
and fuzzy. It’s a word I don’t use often
and it’s a word I never thought applied to me – until yesterday. I was leading a middle school small group and
the topic was gluttony. What’s the first
thing that comes to mind? Overeating of
course. Eating too much. Eating too often. Eating when you’re not hungry. That is
the definition of gluttony right? So
I thought.
While yes that can be
a part of the word gluttony, it is much more than that. It is having or doing anything in
excess. It is when something in your
life becomes a “need” when in reality it’s not such a thing. It’s when something is coming between your
relationship with God, your relationship with your family, maybe your
relationship with yourself. It’s putting
something on a pedestal. It could be
eating, yes. Or it could be technology –
maybe you are instagramming it a little too much and not taking in the moments. Maybe it’s even blogs? Are you holding your blogs on a pedestal as
if you need them? Maybe you get wrapped
up in the gifts and the shopping? I know
I do…
That definition definitely
applies to me. Especially this time of
year. In the season of giving, I often
become consumed with finding “the perfect gift” for a loved one. I will shop and compare prices and Amazon
reviews until I carefully make the right choice. I spend so much time on the buying of the
gift that I forget that it’s really the thought behind the gift that the
receiver will appreciate. Now don’t
get me wrong. In no way at all am I
saying that thoughtful gift-giving is a sin or wrong in any way. Thoughtful gift-giving is a privilege and one
of the best things about this time of year.
But in my life, it can take over.
I will spend 2-3 hours a night looking on the internet for gift options
instead of asking my husband how his day was.
I will check Gilt Group right at 12 noon instead of focusing on the
student I’m working with. OH and not to
mention when I come across something that maybe I would want a as a gift. My wallet suffers from both ends! In my life, it can get in the way and it can
just become too much.
So during this season
of Gratitude I am challenging myself.
Challenging myself to spend less time on the gift-shopping and more time
on the family cuddling. Less time on the
sale-scouting and more time on fireside chats.
Because in the end, we are celebrating this month. We are celebrating something so much bigger
than our idea of “the perfect gift.” We
are celebrating literally the Perfect Gift.
Jesus. God’s one and only
Son. His birth and ultimately the
salvation He brought each one of us. And
in the end it’s the people in our lives that need us more than we need the
stuff.
 |
| Sevilla giving her dad kisses. |
So what is it you
struggle with when it comes to excess? Any
ideas or suggestions for remaining grounded during this excess-filled season?
Also – want to
participate in our December link-up?
Copy and paste the button above on your Holiday Post and leave a
comment below so we can come find you!!
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7 comments :
Lovely post!
I love the holidays as well. My struggle in the season, are cookies. I am in a constant "I can resist the temptation mode" mode now, after I ate slightly too many last week ;-)
Svenja
xx
Wow - I love this, Denise! And oh so true. The world tells us we need to give to others to make it a Christmas season, but really we just need to love. I would say I struggle with feeling I need to give to everyone at Christmas time too - but really need to remember a simple letter or some quality time with them could mean even more. I am going to focus on that this year :) Beautiful post - xo
WOW. So well said. This was amazing and SO TRUE. I love how you said this holiday season isn't about finding the perfect gift, but the Perfect Gift is what Jesus did for us on the cross. This may be one of my favorite blog posts of all time!
Y'all are so cute! :) Yay for December and Christmas! Your pup is so stinkin adorable!
love the post! i have one teed up tomorrow about gratitude, too! tis the season for it :)
Yes, it's like you're taking a peek into my heart! You've said everything I've been thinking and feeling lately. I'm on a little bit of a getting-rid-of-excess kick.
Thank you for the reminder to keep the holidays in perspective and remember what is truly important.
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