Have yourself a merry little Christmas!

Christmas time! oh how much I love Christmas. Everyone seems to have a cheerful spirit about themselves. Christmas carols are played everywhere, Church is getting ready for the youth Christmas program, the tree is up, ordained with its beautiful ornaments. Hope everyone has a blessed Christmas this year!
"  In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."Luke 2:1-20

~KayK

Lasting Memories, and tear filled goodbyes

I often am faced with the question of why goodbyes have to exist, why do they have to be so hard? Why are Hellos, so much easier than goodbyes? the first day of camp was always so exciting, always. Yet by the end of the week, when the time to say goodbye grew nearer and nearer, it got so hard to bear the thought of leaving the cherished friends behind, even today, the distance between me and my wonderful camp friends sometimes seems impossible to fathom. Yet I am reminded; I will see them again. Its not goodbye forever.....

The hurt of saying goodbye is so hard, it seems to echo in your mind for weeks after. There always seems to be a thought of that person, somewhere in your mind, reminding you of them, of your time together, of how much you miss them.

But what would life be like without goodbyes? some might think it would be quite wonderful, but think about it; without goodbyes, you'd have to stay in the same place, knowing the same people, for the rest of your life. Life would have boundaries, there would be no adventure, no making a home in a new land. God says there is a time for everything; 
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;" Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

I try to think of this, as I say goodbye yet again to my eldest sister, as she leaves to her new home with her new family. " A Time to mourn and a time to laugh." now may be a brief time of ' mourning' but I will see her again. The Lord tells me to be strong in him,
 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." Ephesians 6:10
and Trust that he will take care of me, and if it be his will, bring me back to all of my friends and my beloved sister. I take peace in know that he is in control and will see his plan through, whatever it may be. And thank him for the wonderful time he gave me with wonderful people.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" Numbers 6:24-26
~KayK