Daily Wisdom 12-26-2003 Christmas Training Program

< December, 2003 >

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

Christmas Training Program

We really should create some sort of Pre-Yuletide Guide. I think if I started in August with a special Christmas Training Program, I could have my trainees ready by mid-December. In phase one of the program, the trainees would learn to carry four times their body weight in bags while balancing multiple rolls of wrapping paper, a soft drink and a pretzel. Then, while still juggling the bags, paper, drink and pretzel, the trainees would be required to find the car, dig out the keys and open the trunk. All this would have to be done, of course, while trying to corral a toddler who needs to go potty.

Phase two would include an intensive over-eating regimen. The diet would be made up of approximately 60% fast-food and 60% confectioner's sugar. (The extra 20% could be applied directly to the thighs.) On the special diet, program participants would be guaranteed to have their stomachs sufficiently stretched out by Thanksgiving, when the real Christmas over-eating season begins.

Phase three of the program would train for wrist fitness, including helping the trainee get the standard ATM time down to under sixty seconds, check-writing, credit card purchasing and even a remote lesson on the basic cash-counting wrist moves for those two or three people who still use it.

But then again, the real Christmas training would more likely need to be in the area of spending time wisely, not so much in spending money wisely. OK, maybe both. But the time factor seems to be in just as short a supply around the holidays.

I've been thinking lately about just how many Christmases I have left with my kids at home. Daniel: ten more, Allie: eight, Kaley: six, Jordan: five and Andrew: only two more. It's easy to get caught up in the spending, the eating and the busy-ness of Christmas and lose sight of the treasured parts. We won't remember all the activities nearly as much as we'll remember--and treasure--the time with our families. The "urgency" of Christmas isn't in keeping the impossible schedule and buying the truckload of gifts. I'll bet we would all consider it more "urgent" to spend time with family, to share the Savior's birth with people we love and to make some sweet Christmas memories.

Christmas marks Jesus' coming to earth to be with us. What a wonderful, celebrative reason to gather. Teaching others how to celebrate the real reason for Christmas and not forsaking our own worship and our family worship is more important than any other special event on the calendar. Mark it down. You'll find yourself making memories that you can tuck away and treasure, just as Mary did in Luke 2:51 when she, "treasured all these things in her heart."

So plug meaning, joy, and peace into a Christmas that's centered around the love of Jesus and love for His people. The shepherds assembled at Christ's coming. The wise men assembled. Even the angels assembled. Let's assemble our loved ones in the name of the Savior.

Christmas: some assembly required.

Contributed by Rhonda Rhearrhea@juno.comRhonda Rhea writes for dozens of great Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her new book, Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site atwww.rhondarhea.net