Expectations

   I was reminded of something today while I was reading an article by Debbie Macomber.  I remembered the word "expectations".  Two years ago I read an article by her.  She shared that every year she picked a word and focused on that one word for a year, journaling and looking for ways it happened in her life.  I thought I'd give it a try, but like most of my writing and blogging, I haven't done so well.
   This year my word was "expectations".  I started well, but quite truthfully forgot as the year went on. Until today.  And realized how appropriate that word has been.  My expectations have been quite challenged this year-with the church, with ministry, with family, with my marriage, with my self, and with Christmas.
   I think this is at the heart of my struggle about the meaning of Christmas and how to observe its celebration.  It comes down to expectations.  Trying to reconcile the Christmas of my childhood with Christmas now.  How the world celebrates versus how we celebrate as Christians.  How we celebrate as Christians with how should we be observing Christ's birth.  Making the yuletide stay.  What I want, what I'm dreaming of, what I wish for, what I'd like Christmas to be.  Expectations...
   So I'll be continuing to explore these expectations.  And, oh, yes, I'll have to be choosing another word for 2014.  So I will be going from transformation to expectations to ???  And we'll just see how it all ties in with a "very different Christmas".
  I will close by wishing you all a very blessed Christmas, filled with the joy of the Lord's presence and the wonder of God's redeeming love through the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Christmas can be challenging I know, but it really is all about Jesus and His love for us.  Shalom!