PREPARATION

Jordan was sitting on the park bench right by the bike trail, when a boy about 5 years old sat down and started winding what appeared to be his own very special Mickey Mouse watch. Jordan said, "What a neat watch! Does it tell you the time?"

Without even looking up the boy responded,  "No, you gotta look at it."

This is the season of rush, not the talk radio guy, the packing of our days with too much stuff for our time. We wind our days too tight, hurried, stretched, and frazzled, while conveniently losing track of our moments. The boy is right--to get the most out of our time we’ve go to stop and look at it.

From the moment we wake up, we’re driving the fast lane, moving from appointment to appointment with a great sense of accomplishment but little appreciation. We hurry through food without thought of conversation. The rich layers of generations and traditions and friendships are marked with cards and newsletters, but carelessly overlooked. We smile for the pictures while stretching our necks and sucking in our guts, trying to look younger and thinner then we are. We don't want to look like we've missed the point of the season, even if we have.  

When events do bring us together we don't know what to do. We eat, watch TV, play video games, stick earbuds in and headphones on our ears, text friends and family members in the same room.

If you want to experience the moment, to enjoy all the layers of the season, do more than pose for pictures. Invite grandparents and great-grandparents to talk about Christmas when they were a children. Listen for moments, the layers of memories that overlay your experiences. You will hear the spirit of Christmas.

My friend Mike Cope, the new voice of Heartbeat Ministry, tells the story of layers. His message is one that grabs your attention and, regardless of your circumstances, forces you to realize you are part of a story that's bigger and more meaningful than your current situation. It's much bigger than your wishes and wants. There is hidden meaning in his quarters.

Click this link for Mike's message: http://twurl.nl/v4eruu
 

INSPIRATION

Everyone has a story. It happened when Logan was in the second grade. He and his Grandma were Christmas shopping in the mall and having a wonderful time. It was evident that everyone was in a rush, but not Grandma. She never seemed to be in a hurry. She knew how to enjoy the moment.
   
While they were drinking one of those strawberry fruit drinks at the food court, the kid sitting at the table next to them was having a melt-down. He was yelling, crying, throwing fits, and making everyone around him miserable.

Finally, Logan's grandma took a notepad out of her purse, leaned over to where the little boy was sitting, got his attention, and asked, "Could you tell me your name?"

He stopped whining for a moment, looked at her and her notepad, and said, "Matt."
 
Grandma wrote down "Matt."

"Who are you?" the boy asked.
 
"I work for Santa Claus," Grandma said, "and I'm taking the names of children who are being mean and ugly. Now, what's your last name?"

"No, I'll be good. I promise," he quickly responded.
 
Logan continued, "We never talked about that little boy, and I never was quite sure that my Grandma was kidding about working for Santa, so I was especially good around her."

MOTIVATION

People of all ages bring layers of life to your Christmas celebrations. It's these shared layers that shape us. So, make sure you stop and listen to the stories of past Christmases and write the stories of this one.

The following questions are simple, but powerful. They unlock layers of life that long to be remembered and retold. There is a deep-rooted longing to connect to the spirit of the season, so assume your guests share this desire.

These questions are fit for parties, dinners, family celebrations, and devotional times. Be ready to give your responses to show the way. But once the door is open, you will write new memories that will be shared in years to come.

• What was Christmas like when you were a kid?
• Did anything funny ever happen at Christmas?
• Did you every have a sad Christmas?
• What is your favorite Christmas song?
• What could we do to make Christmas better?
• What is your Christmas wish for next year?