SNOW GLOBES

As the Christmas season rapidly approaches us I finally decided to pull out all of the decorations. With each item that I pulled out another memory filled my head. I remember this same feeling as a child. Waiting for the special day when mom pulled out all of the storage boxes and we began the decorating. Once all the decorations were out my mind kept falling back to the one decoration that I haven't seen in a long time. I used to have a small plastic snow globe. I'm sure at some point in my life I got it for free at an event or something, I don't even really remember. What I do remember is how much I loved it. There was a tiny nativity scene inside of it. I would pull it out of the box and shake it over and over. The joy that such a small item brought me is truly amazing when I look back on it. I'm not sure at what point that globe disappeared, just one Christmas it was gone, never to be seen again.

Lately I feel like my life is that snow globe. Someone grabs my entire being and shakes it like crazy. As soon and I think everything has settled and might actually be calm God throws me something else and the shaking begins again. It is this cycle that continues over and over. I know that God will never give me more than I can handle, but sometimes it takes a lot to convince myself that is true. As exciting as this time of year is, it is also just as trying. Financially, socially, and mentally draining on me and the rest of my family. I need to find the peace and happiness that Christmas is meant to bring. Christine told me the other day that I spend so much time thinking about everything going on in my life that I end up missing what is going on here and now. In some ways I think that is very true. Here and now is what really matters. I can't change the future, I have no control of other people. My snow globe may not stop shaking, but I can stay focused on one thing and quit getting dizzy every time it does.