Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of
Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt
stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.
AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at
the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE,
BRACELET AND EARRINGS! Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us
all.
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The Joy of Unexpected Circumstances
by Lori Kasbeer
The Christmas season is upon us again. Starbucks is selling their Christmas blend; stores
are posting their holiday hours; and moms everywhere are making a list and checking it
twice, planning for a special Christmas day. It has been our family’s tradition to spend
Christmas with relatives. Last year money was tight and we were unable to
travel, this is not how we had planned to spend Christmas day but circumstances were
beyond our control. Realizing my three boys--who are now teenagers--will not be under
our roof for much longer, I wanted to have a special Christmas with just the five of
us.
Leading up to Christmas morning we all made mouth-watering, cinnamon cut-out
cookies, spent time together sticking tape everywhere while trying to wrap presents,
and enjoyed spending time together. We did not have much money, but were
having fun making memories. When Christmas morning arrived and we sat
around to open gifts my eyes welled up with overwhelming joy. This mother was
trying to absorb all the activity that was going on all around her: the smiles from each
of my teenage boys, the sounds of laughter, and the smell of cinnamon rolls cooking
in the oven. If I could freeze a moment in time, this would be it. I don’t
know what the future holds for each of my boys, but that Christmas morning I wanted
to soak it all in so I could recall this special day for years to come. Despite
struggling financially, unexpected circumstances turned into immense joy and a lifetime
of memories.
Mothers treasuring special moments is not something new. Mary, mother of Jesus
Christ, was one who tried to soak in everything that first Christmas morning. Even
after Christ’s birth she was still trying to absorb what the angel had said to her when he
delivered the news that she was going to be the mother of the coming Savior.
She reflected on the time she had with her cousin Elizabeth while they were both
pregnant. Along with comprehending the unusual way her son came into this
world.
While very pregnant with child, Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem
to register Mary for the census. Never did she image she would deliver her baby
in a barn with a manger being the only thing to lay him down in. These were not
the circumstances she had envisioned. Before she had time to catch her breath,
suddenly all around her there was excitement when shepherds showed up reporting
what they had seen and heard. There were angels—a multitude of angels—who
were singing and declaring the Savior was born and a bright star led them to her and
Joseph. So much has happened in a short amount of time and Mary
did not want to forget any of it. Instead she stepped back and “treasured up all
these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
Mary did not exactly know what the plans were for her son, but she knew it was going to
change the lives of everyone on earth. She was preparing her heart to obey God
concerning her son Jesus, without the full knowledge of what was going to come while at
the same time quietly reflecting and capturing this one special moment in time.
May this Christmas be filled with joy and a lifetime of memories, even if you find
yourself in unexpected circumstances. Merry Christmas!
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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day.
All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS
QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com) on
New Years Day!
12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more
information, please visit www.pearlgirls.info
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