I hope everyone had a wonderful day celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior yesterday. I spent my first Christmas voluntarily separated from my family, and it was at once both a great blessing and a very trying ordeal. Fortunately, I have some wonderful family and friends in this area who helped me to mark the holiday with all the love and cheer in the world. Despite that though, I've spent the last few days and weeks wondering whether I was doing the right thing by denying my family back home the right to spend Christmas with their whole family.
The truth is, times and seasons change in life. We can all think of one major event or another that we missed with our family, whether because of work (or in my case two deployments), or school, or financial limitations, or any other reason; there are always times in life when we wish we could be someplace else.
After all the trials and tribulations of the last few years, I'm learning to love more than ever the simple and mundane joy of just being where you are. Too often in life we wish away days, weeks, or even entire multi-year seasons of our lives simply because we think that later on will bring us more joy and happiness. The thing about time is, it never comes back to you, no matter how you spend it.
I made a conscious choice after some of the recent calamities in my life to be more intentional about enjoying the moments as they come, because God knows I could always be someplace worse. This holiday season, I just want to encourage all of you to be present where you are, because every moment in this life is an unrepeatable miracle which you can never get back.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. -Phil. 4:12-13
Live in the moment, love where you are, and thank God for everything you have.
That's all.
The truth is, times and seasons change in life. We can all think of one major event or another that we missed with our family, whether because of work (or in my case two deployments), or school, or financial limitations, or any other reason; there are always times in life when we wish we could be someplace else.
After all the trials and tribulations of the last few years, I'm learning to love more than ever the simple and mundane joy of just being where you are. Too often in life we wish away days, weeks, or even entire multi-year seasons of our lives simply because we think that later on will bring us more joy and happiness. The thing about time is, it never comes back to you, no matter how you spend it.
I made a conscious choice after some of the recent calamities in my life to be more intentional about enjoying the moments as they come, because God knows I could always be someplace worse. This holiday season, I just want to encourage all of you to be present where you are, because every moment in this life is an unrepeatable miracle which you can never get back.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. -Phil. 4:12-13
Live in the moment, love where you are, and thank God for everything you have.
That's all.
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