Today's Personal Reflection on Christmas

As Christmas is an emotional season, and definitely a time for families, I feel a bit reflective as I lost my father 6 years ago, the family stabilizer, and this fall, I lost my mother. So this will be my first year without parents, even though my mother had Alzheimer's and wasn't really "with" me, she was here and a part of my life. So I sit here thinking of how totally blessed I was that God provided for me a perfect picture of himself in my parents.

My father was strong, wise, and always there for me. I could curl up on his lap even as an adult and get comfort and love. He new my good qualities and strengths and my bad qualities and deficiencies. He let me make my own mistakes and often had to help me overcome them. He was my support. There was never a time I did not feel loved by him. A perfect picture of my loving heavenly Father.

My mother was totally different. She was the picture of Jesus. She was the one who took me to church each week as a child, she lived her whole life in service for her Heavenly Father. She saw everyone through rose colored glasses ... seeing only the good in everyone. She would listen to me, offer loving encouragement, and take the issues and offer them up in prayer. I always knew my struggles and joys were prayed over. She was a prayer. She was the one who left me with consistent phrases such as "it's not WHAT you say, it's HOW you say it", or "attitude is everything," and the best one: "let God be God."

I miss my parents so much this season, but I have awesome memories. As I turn my thoughts toward the season and my Heavenly Father, I know they are both together with Him -- made possible by his gift of Jesus Christ ... the little baby He gave to die for my parents and me. That is my gift ... my hope. I know that baby was born to die for my sins, so God might see me with rose colored glasses. Thank you Lord, for such a good example of your love for me.