As I'm listenting to worship/Christmas music this morning, I began to think about Jesus' birth. I thought about how eventually God sent his precious child, his son, to the cross. We hear it so often, especially those of us in church, how God gave His son for us. It means a lot, but I personally hear it so often, that sometimes I forget to ackowledge the powerful meaning behind that. My children are my most precious blessings, and while there are several people I would give my life for, not one of them would I give one of my children's lives for. My heart aches at the vision God had to bare, watching His sweet son suffer. Just the thought alone is horrible, so to actually go through that, there are just no words to decribe it. I mean I really can't think of sufficient words to describe what torture it must have been to watch your child be tortured and ridiculed, and then left to die. Even more amazing, with the blink of an eye, God could have put a stop to it. But, he didn't. He sacrificed one, for many. What a giving, loving, selfless God we serve. I haven't been doing my part to help Jesus bear His cross.
I haven't.
I think about my blessings, but they are never enough. I complain that my house is too small, but to those that are homeless, they would be ever so thankful. I complain that we can't eat out more, that I have to cook, and then clean it up...what about those who have no food, who dig in the trash or have to steal just to feed their children. I complain because there are days when, as much as I love them, my children's non stop chatter and activity drive me insane...what about the mother and father watching their child slip slowly away from a terminal illness...how blessed would they feel to be driven insane by their healthy children. I gripe when I have to run errands, pay bills, everything is so expensive. Instead, I should be thankful I have a car, with a tank full of gass to get where I need to go. Thankful my husband has a job, that he isn't lazy, but a hard worker, that God has provided us with these blessings so we can pay our bills...so we can have hot, running water, lights, heat and air, etc. I get annoyed when I can't go shopping and buy everything I want, but my children are clean, with clothes and shoes to spare. I hate paying such high doctor and medical bills, but what's the alternative? I should be praising God that we have insurance to cover so much of the costs, and that I am able to take myself, and my children to a good health care provider, that they can have medicine when they are sick. This doesn't even begin to cover how blessed I am, but yet, I find myself complaining so often. I am so thankful we don't have to be perfect to get into Heaven, God would have crossed me off the list LONG ago. I am grateful that I only have to believe in Him, and accept Him as my Savior. Still, in my heart, I know I need to be helping Him bare the cross He carries, after all, He carries it for me, for my children, for all those willing to take Him up on His offer. I'm thankful that I am not "stuck" in my current place, but with God, have the ability to grow in Him, and work on myself to become more like who He wants me to be.

And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself (disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself) and take up his cross daily and follow Me (cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also).
Luke 9:23