This year has been different. I love Christmas, just as I always have. I love Santa and presents and decorations and cookies. I love Christmas music, Christmas trees, and the winter outfits we get to wear around Christmas. But none of that seems to matter as much this year.
So much has happened, and in the wake of all of that I've been evaluating my life and the things I've learned. And this year Christmas means more. Jesus means more.
It really is beautiful - the story of Jesus. How He was promised so long ago, when man first fell. How He is seen so clearly throughout history even before he came. How His faithful servants longed for Him, waited for Him, and predicted Him.
And then - finally - He came. So unexpectedly. Not the King they'd all been waiting for. But a baby. In a single night the entire world was changed. In that baby, hope was born. He hadn't come to rule yet; He came to give hope. To seek and save the lost.
And then He died. He died the most torturous death - having done nothing wrong - to pay for the sin of mankind. With His last breath He cried out in victory, "It is finished!" He had conquered sin. He bridged the gap between His father and fallen mankind.
But unlike any other story, this one did not end in death; for when He defeated sin He defeated its consequence. He rose again giving hope of life for those who believe in the truth of this beautiful story. For those who recognize their loss and His win.
His story does not even end there, amazingly. For one day He will be the King we've been waiting for. He will rule in righteousness. And into eternity, when the last battle has been won, we will celebrate Him. We will celebrate His beautiful story, and His grace in allowing us to be a part of it.
These are the things on which I have been thinking this Christmas. I am mesmerized by it and the realization that this is what matters. Everything I'm going through right now is ok because this is what matters. And I love that.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
It's the Little Things
I went to the thrift store today. I'm not typically a thrift store shopper, but I've frequented them more since I've discovered Pinterest. I now love the thought of purchasing (at a low cost) something old and used and making it my own. My purpose in this particular visit was to search for items for the apartment I'm looking to rent in the near future.
I wasn't looking for anything specific; just something small I could re-purpose as a weekend project, then use in my apartment. I found a few small lamps I was going to paint and put in the living room, then wandered to the furniture section, just in case. And this is where the magic happened. I found the most perfect coffee table. I wasn't looking for a coffee table. I've never felt the need for a coffee table. But now... I need a coffee table. I'm not sure if it's the fact that it's a coffee table, or even that it's perfect, as much as the fact that it will be mine. In my apartment. I need this coffee table, and I need the independence and adult-ness that come with it.
When I decided to express my need for this coffee table to the man to whom I'd given the honor of carrying it to my car, he informed that I'd be wiser to wait until tomorrow to make my purchase, because tomorrow everything in the store will be 50% off. I'll get my coffee table for $12.50.
Twelve dollars and fifty cents for my first step into adulthood. I couldn't pass it up. I left the store empty handed. And it's been gnawing at me ever since. I mean, what if I get there tomorrow morning and it's gone? What if someone else bought my independence?
There's something to be said for patience. I don't have it. I would love to think that if the coffee table and I are meant to be, it will be there in the morning. But I just can't convince myself. And I'm not good at waiting to find out.
I'm not good at waiting in general. I've been looking forward to this apartment for a long time. It's such an exciting time, but I've felt as though I'm stuck waiting for the excitement to happen. I've been consumed with planning for it - financially, mentally, materially, etc.
When making life changes as I've been trying to make lately, it is easy to get caught up in the "looking forward." But I've found that this waiting process is a learning experience in itself. This is a time in my life that I'll never have again, and I shouldn't want to rush out of it.
I'm learning to appreciate the here and now, though it's not always easy. It's the little things - like getting up at 7:15 on a Saturday morning with my mom to head to Good Will in hopes to spend $12.50 on a coffee table - of which I'm learning not to take advantage.
I'm thankful for the things to come. And now, I can honestly say I'm thankful for the meantime.
I wasn't looking for anything specific; just something small I could re-purpose as a weekend project, then use in my apartment. I found a few small lamps I was going to paint and put in the living room, then wandered to the furniture section, just in case. And this is where the magic happened. I found the most perfect coffee table. I wasn't looking for a coffee table. I've never felt the need for a coffee table. But now... I need a coffee table. I'm not sure if it's the fact that it's a coffee table, or even that it's perfect, as much as the fact that it will be mine. In my apartment. I need this coffee table, and I need the independence and adult-ness that come with it.
When I decided to express my need for this coffee table to the man to whom I'd given the honor of carrying it to my car, he informed that I'd be wiser to wait until tomorrow to make my purchase, because tomorrow everything in the store will be 50% off. I'll get my coffee table for $12.50.
Twelve dollars and fifty cents for my first step into adulthood. I couldn't pass it up. I left the store empty handed. And it's been gnawing at me ever since. I mean, what if I get there tomorrow morning and it's gone? What if someone else bought my independence?
There's something to be said for patience. I don't have it. I would love to think that if the coffee table and I are meant to be, it will be there in the morning. But I just can't convince myself. And I'm not good at waiting to find out.
I'm not good at waiting in general. I've been looking forward to this apartment for a long time. It's such an exciting time, but I've felt as though I'm stuck waiting for the excitement to happen. I've been consumed with planning for it - financially, mentally, materially, etc.
When making life changes as I've been trying to make lately, it is easy to get caught up in the "looking forward." But I've found that this waiting process is a learning experience in itself. This is a time in my life that I'll never have again, and I shouldn't want to rush out of it.
I'm learning to appreciate the here and now, though it's not always easy. It's the little things - like getting up at 7:15 on a Saturday morning with my mom to head to Good Will in hopes to spend $12.50 on a coffee table - of which I'm learning not to take advantage.
I'm thankful for the things to come. And now, I can honestly say I'm thankful for the meantime.
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