Project Candy Cane Blessing

I was in a funk earlier today - feeling joyless as I rushed around doing everything I'm supposed to do this time of year. I even wrote a post about it - a really whiny post. But then I deleted it.

One friend read it before I deleted it and asked me a very simple, pointed question...
What does Christmas mean to you?

My first thought was...well, that's obvious. It's about Jesus' birth. I've just gotten caught up in the frenzy that is inevitable this time of year.

But the more I thought about it, the more I was reminded that JOY is a choice.

So I set off to make cookies with the girls. I quickly realized that I put in two sticks of butter instead of one (they make butter sticks different here in the west...they are shorter and fatter, so that's why I got confused and put in two). Anyway, this mistake was going to require another trip to the grocery store (the one I've been to every day this week and already once today!)

So the girls threw on their cowboy boots and we headed off the to store. I grabbed a box of candy canes to surprise the girls and then we picked up the cookie stuff. I also grabbed a Starbuck's treat for myself. While I was waiting for my coffee, there was another little girl standing in line with her mom. My girls were sucking on their candy canes and I offered the other little girl a candy cane.

The joy on her face. The surprise on Sydney and Kayleigh's faces. It dawned on me...this is what Christmas is. Joy comes from giving. God loved us and gave us His son. He has blessed us and we are to give to others out of that blessing.

Sydney excitedly said to me, "Mom, that was so nice of you to share our candy canes." And so Project Candy Cane Blessing was born. We found two other girls to share our candy canes with and as we walked out of the store we could hear them calling "Thank you!"

And with that, I looked up toward heaven and thanked God for helping me find JOY in giving.

This is the question that made me think and I'll pass it on.

What is Christmas to you?