When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
-Luke 2:15-19 (NIV)
Having my firstborn child with me to celebrate her
first Christmas was the best part of my holiday. Even though only four months
and probably unable to comprehend the significant meaning of Christmas,
Annabelle still made the days special with her own unique smiles and smirks. The
holiday season becomes even more meaningful when you have a wonderful wife and
child to share those moments with.
Spending time with close loved ones and friends,
especially your own children, create stand still moments that remind us to
cherish the present reality in front of us. The captured photograph grows into
the essence of a thousand heartfelt words. Annabelle smiles, and it literally
feels like time freezes in that instance. The worries of the world melt away,
and not much else seems to matter other than that specific cherished memory. My
baby girl is happy, and the pressures of tomorrow seem a little less stressful.
Like a shepherd protecting his herd of sheep, Jesus
speaks of His children with fondness in Mark 10-:13-16, which states the
following: “People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his
hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was
indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do
not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I
tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child
will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, placed
his hands on them and blessed them.”
On Jesus’s birthday, the natural feeling of stillness
in the midst of joy through the eyes of a child is the message of Christmas. Understanding
the world from the perspective of a child reveals simple truths in complex
circumstances.
(1.) For instance, life is short. So appreciate each
moment as if your last.
(2.) The stressors of life are probably not all that
important in the first place.
(3.) Be grateful for the blessings in front of you.
You might miss the bigger picture if pinpointing one negative focused detail
you obsess over.
(5.) Life is just too short to be stressed by the
small stuff. Except for the concerns of our children and immediate family
members, everything else is small stuff.
There are many other good truthful reminders Christians
should celebrate when living in the presence of the Holy Spirit. By staying
focused on the here and now, we take on the mindset of a child. The external
cares of this world matter not. The enjoyment of today matters most.
Feel the soft blanket that keeps you warm in the
comfortable home around you. Smell the bonfires in the coolness of the winter
air. See the beauty of a white Christmas in the snowflakes that fall. Witness
the miracles standing in front of you. Find joy like a child experiencing her
first Christmas days. Then every moment will feel like a first, and newfound
meaning will invigorate your heart. You will remember what made Christmas the
greatest miracle of all time with a baby found in a manger because your own
child will remind you of this reality. Annabelle is the best Christmas present
received in the miracle that sits before me in my very own arms.
You can view the latest pictures of my beautiful daughter here below.
#daddydestinations #daddy #blog #family #DaddiesAndDaughters
#destinations #memories #story #narrative
