I cry at Christmas. Guess that is nothing new – I cry on the 4th of July too.
There are just some things that bring my emotions to an all time high. Things like the National athem, military men and women marching with color guard. Taps. Easter. Surprise welcome homes. I suppose, I’m a sap, but there are certain things that bring me to tears every time I see them.
But the thing that draws me to tears fastest, is the plight of Mary and Joseph. The thoughts of this poor couple searching for a place to stay, and Mary . . . nothing more than a child herself, laboring to give birth. It’s enough when you’re an adult woman giving birth – but a child. She couldn’t have been more than 14 years old. The custom in those days was marriage long before their 16th birthday. The whole ordeal just rips my one heart into two.
Add to that, Silent Night and an innocent child bundled and laid in the hay. Shish. It’s so sad.
Mary pondered all these things in her heart. Every single moment had great meaning to her. After all, it’s not everyday the angel of God approaches you with the news that you will bring God incarnate into the the world. Imagine the confusion, the fear . . . the burden of knowing your child would be the sacrificial lamb. Still, Mary pondered and treasured every breath Jesus took.
I’m so grateful for the life I have. It’s far from perfect, but it’s miles above that of Mary and Joseph – of Jesus.
There are days I feel my heart hardened simply because of the unrest we see in the world. My patience are less when I see an attitude of entitlement or flipant disrespect and lies. It makes me shake my head and turn my back, refusing to be a part of any of the chaos.
Then I hear Silent Night or I see a child recite the story of Christ’s birth and my heart melts and pours out my eyes.
Gifts have become increasingly less important to me. The desire to rush to the store and fight the crowds for special pricing and real deals, just isn’t there. Instead, I find myself mesmerized by the gentle turns of our Christmas tree as it rotates slowly. Everytime the ornament of the nativity passes by, I wrap my fingers around it and gently brush over the trio. That’s when it happens. Tears.
This year, there are no gifts under our tree. They’re hidden away in an upstairs room to be brought out on Christmas eve. One small corner with a handful of gift bags. Mostly because we live in a world where adult children buy all they need or want long before the Christmas holiday. Asking what they desire for Christmas brings silence – they have no real needs or wants so there’s no joy in shopping anymore.
Maybe our family is downsizing in more ways than one. We’re finding ourselves at the crossroads of tradition and the real meaning of Christmas where family, conversations, and one-on-one time is far more important than wrapped packages. We’re spending more time in prayer and less in the worldly traditions.
This year, my Christmas tears are a touching rain of gratitude for the blessings, the true blessings, I have been given. My heart is a bit softer toward those who feel the world owes them. I’m taking them to the feet of that baby who gave up the splendor of heaven for short time to offer us all forgiveness and love.
I hope your outlook of Christmas becomes far more focused than a temporary holiday. I hope your heart draws you to tears everytime you see the needs of those who long for something more complete than what the world offers.
Keep in mind how God must cry over us and how He longs to have us WANT Him in our lives. This Christmas, spend a little time sheading some tears. Tears of deep, deep love and gratitude for the ultimate gift given to us that dark lonely night when a young girl gave birth to pure love.
*Photo courtesy of morguefile.com & ariadna
Present Yourself Approved and Professional
1/28/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Integrity - An Authors Valued Trait
1/8/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Homonyms – Did You Sea/See Them Their/There?
1/8/2021 6:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Writer Self-Care - Welcome 2021
1/4/2021 10:22:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Hope in a New Year
1/1/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Silent Night
12/25/2020 9:22:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
One More Christmas Thought - Taken from ChristianDevotions.US blog
12/25/2020 6:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
A Christmas Saga - Joy in the Season
12/24/2020 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
When Writing Grows Hard
12/22/2020 9:02:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Permission to Quit - No Way
12/18/2020 9:55:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
The Power of the Pen
12/15/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Good, The Bad, and the Memoir
12/11/2020 10:59:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
The Immeasurable Power in You
12/8/2020 2:37:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Scratch It Till It Bleeds
12/5/2020 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Closing Up Shop - Renting or Selling Our Parent's Home
9/5/2020 8:33:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Humility in Writing
7/7/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Let it Percolate
7/3/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Mentoring - A Wise Choice
6/29/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Divorce My Words?
6/23/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Icy Self-Talk Will Freeze Your Writing
6/19/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Power in You
6/16/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Waiting
6/12/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Who Really Sells Your Books
6/9/2020 3:47:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Social Media When You Aren't Social Media Minded
4/20/2020 6:43:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
What Really Is Important
4/12/2020 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
In the Midst of Chaos
3/17/2020 10:37:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
The Heart of God
2/14/2020 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Writing in a Pickle
1/30/2020 3:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Adult Day Care Alternative
1/23/2020 5:09:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Social Media Blitz
1/19/2020 11:20:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
The Joys of Aging
12/30/2019 7:53:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Reality of Who We Are?
12/22/2019 7:53:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Publishing Trends
11/30/2019 8:16:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Be Thankful ANYWAY
11/28/2019 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Writing Your Mission Statement
11/19/2019 7:38:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Perseverance to Write
11/16/2019 12:00:00 PM by: Cindy
Common Sense Tips for When You Write
11/9/2019 10:26:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
The Battle is Fought
10/15/2019 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy
Twelve Tidbits of Wisdom from Top Christian Writers
10/5/2019 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Pray with Fire
10/3/2019 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
The Easy In
9/24/2019 8:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Art of Self-Editing
9/10/2019 10:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Questions, Questions
9/6/2019 10:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
15-Minute Appointments - Important Networking
9/3/2019 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Don't Close Your Eyes - Bob Hostetler
2/5/2019 by: Cindy Sproles
Love Your Faculty
10/17/2018 3:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Forging Ahead after Rejection
7/17/2018 8:12:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
cindysproles.com Privacy Policy
6/4/2018 8:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Closing Up Shop - Guiding Seniors to Letting Go
4/9/2018 10:56:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Publishing Naysayers
3/16/2018 1:30:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
In Prayer - I Write
3/3/2018 9:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Keep Them Reading
1/12/2018 11:23:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Encouraged - Even When . . .
1/2/2018 12:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Christmas Tears
12/18/2017 12:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Holiday Elder Care - Be an Elder Elf
11/12/2017 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Grateful for a Dream I Didn't Know I Had
11/9/2017 6:30:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Keep Them Reading
11/1/2017 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Chicken Soup for the Soul - Writer Call Out
10/27/2017 10:05:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Five Ways to Assure Your Work will Find the Slush Pile
10/24/2017 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
23rd Psalm Revisited
10/21/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Contentment in Writing
10/19/2017 9:30:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
5 Common Sense Tips to Better Writing
10/10/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Overshadowed
8/21/2017 10:05:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Chicken Soup for the Soul Callout - Stories about Love
8/21/2017 7:54:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Five Keys to Overcoming Rejection
8/12/2017 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Writing Call Out - Chicken Soup for the Soul
8/10/2017 8:47:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
When Words of Encouragement Wane
6/28/2017 10:54:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Writing Truth with Love
1/13/2017 11:05:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Oh To Be A Writer
1/4/2017 11:12:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Why Write?
1/1/2017 11:16:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Scammed
6/21/2016 3:48:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Pain of Unsolicited
3/9/2016 3:51:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Not Alone: A Literary and Spiritual Companion for Those Confronted with Infertility and Miscarriage
11/21/2015 3:02:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Thankful Despite . . .
11/20/2015 3:04:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Stepping Up to Na-No-Wri-Mo
11/16/2015 3:08:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Gift of No Gifts
11/2/2015 3:11:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Writers Be Encouraged
10/15/2015 3:17:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Keep ‘Em Reading – It’s the Writer’s Responsibility
8/13/2015 3:26:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Saying Goodbye
7/17/2015 3:31:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Overcoming the Fear of Writing Failure
7/8/2015 3:38:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Making the Move – Home to Assisted Living
6/17/2015 3:41:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
I Kid You Not
6/6/2015 3:44:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Hearing the Call to Foster – Renee McCausey
1/13/2015 3:54:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Throw Out the Crutches
1/10/2015 5:02:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
So You Were Asked to Be A Beta Reader?
1/10/2015 3:59:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
REJECTIONS – Aaughhh!
1/5/2015 5:04:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Bachelor – Stephanie Reed
12/14/2014 5:06:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Making of a Servant
11/30/2014 5:10:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Miracle in a Dry Season Review – Yvonne Lehman
8/27/2014 5:12:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Write Anyway
8/26/2014 5:17:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
World Blog Tour – Catching Up with Cindy Sproles
7/22/2014 5:19:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Progression of Life
7/17/2014 5:23:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Instrumental Writing Helps – Aaron Gansky
7/4/2014 5:27:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Question Saga
6/29/2014 5:28:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Defy the Night – REVIEW
4/28/2014 5:30:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
When the Work is Hard to Do
4/1/2014 5:31:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
My Heart Belongs to Him
2/14/2014 5:32:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Review of The Vicar’s Wife
2/2/2014 5:44:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The In on Self Publishing – Part 2
12/29/2013 3:44:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The In on Self Publishing – Part 1
12/26/2013 3:47:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
In a Pickle
10/1/2013 3:52:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Bigger and Better
9/27/2013 3:54:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Putting SOCIAL back in Media
8/10/2013 8:08:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
After the Conference Ends…
8/8/2013 8:13:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Here a Tweak, There a Tweak, Everywhere a Tweak, Tweak
8/2/2013 8:15:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Can You Hear Me Now?
7/23/2013 8:18:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Golden Years, Cherished Moments
3/20/2013 7:47:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Broken Heart Syndrome
9/26/2012 7:56:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
What About Our Elders
8/24/2012 7:57:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
A Minute – A Lifetime
8/10/2012 7:58:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Water, Water – Who’s Got the Water
7/31/2012 7:59:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles