The "commercialization" of Christmas

To you who "do not believe in Christmas", I've heard it all. I've heard, "It's not Christmas I don't believe in but the "commercialization" of it all", I've heard, "It's not Christmas I don't "believe" in giving gifts one day a year, I do it all year", I've heard, "Jesus wasn't even born in December. This is just a pagan holiday." I've heard it all. But have you ever stopped to think about WHY we celebrate Christmas. Yes, yes, we celebrate Christmas because of Christ. We all know that. But where did Christmas come from? We always hear "Christmas is a time for giving" and "Christmas is a time for miracles." And you argue, "shouldn't that be all year?" Yes, it should. And it can. And for many of us it IS. But Christmas...what does it mean? Christmas = The mass of Christ. Christ = Christ, the son of God who was born in a manger to a virgin and who was the greatest of teachers at merely a child of 13. He was the only pure sinless human to ever be born on this earth. Let me stop here, isn't that someone worthy of a short season in our short lives? And then we have mas. Mas = a conjugate of the Latin word mittere which means "to send." So we celebrate Christmas which literally means "To send Christ." And you are telling me that "you don't believe that"? My husband and I personally do things all throughout the year to "send Christ" and we keep Christ alive in our household all year long but what is so wrong in sending Christ at a time set aside specifically to send Christ's love? I see nothing wrong with setting aside a time of the year when everything we do is with conscious effort of praising God. Should we do it all throughout the year as well? Yes. Of course! But I truly believe that He smiles, as we do, when we set aside a specific time of the year to glorify Him and rejoice Him with others. After all God said Himself in Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them." If nothing else at all, this is a time where we are Christians gather together to give presents, be it knowingly or secretly, as a way to show our love for Christ to our brethren. I, personally, love giving gifts! Of course it is always nice to receive but until you have received the greatest gift of all that which is Christ and you have seen the joy on a child's face when they receive something they were not expecting or you experience the joy of providing for a family that otherwise would not be able to will you fully understand the love that comes from sharing Christ's love. So you may think that presents are bought and given out of "commercialization" but maybe, just maybe, you are missing the point or maybe you have never accepted Christ's love when he has tried to give it to you. Either way, don't criticize those of us who "do up Christmas big" or "go all out." Chances are we are doing it for the right reasons, we are doing it to show that we have been blessed and would like to bless you, or maybe we have been given that "nudge" from God to buy that specific or "one more" gift. We are not doing it for the glory, we are doing it because we have been led to do so and we like to see your face when you realize "Hey, in all of the crazy that is life, for a mere minute they thought of me."  

Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in You."

A lot has gone on in the Harris family lately but that update will have to come later, right now I want to put all of the every day stuff aside and just take a moment to say a few words about this date in history as well as this day, itself. 

September 11, 2001: a day that will forever be ingrained in the lives, thoughts, minds, and memories of so many people. Every year I tell the story of where I was, how I felt, how I thought it was a terrible joke, and how it has changed me. This year is no different. All day I have replayed that day 14 years ago in my head; the trip to drop my brother off at school, the trip home where that 1 mile was the longest mile I have ever driven in my life, how I was the only one home and scared for my daddy who worked in the federal building and my mom who was at work across the bridge, how I sat in awe alone in front of the TV all day long after my college classes were cancelled just crying, praying, and watching the entire thing unfold. The uncertainty of what was going on and what was going to happen, the confusion of what had occurred and why, those still ring true today in many ways. Of course, we have some "reasons" and some excuses and some "answers" but at the same time, what occurred on this date 14 years ago was so horrific that it is still hard to wrap your mind around it. We may never fully understand what happened that day and, to be honest, I don't think that we want to.

September 11, 2015: A threat was placed on the heads of white people; children, teachers, and police officers specifically. Why, you ask? Because they're white. The world has gone to crap so much that we have backslidden to a time where race is, once again, one of the biggest problems we have. In the "threat" that circulated on Facebook it was "advised" to keep children home from school. It's scary! I mean, you are threatening our children now?? Innocent children who more than likely have not even noticed the color of one's skin for anything more than descriptive purposes. I heard about the threat yesterday and really wasn't too worried about it. The police had said that they did not believe it to be credible, the school had already called to make me aware that they were aware and working closely with the police department, I just did not feel anxious. And then my Facebook feed filled up with anxiety and fear and I began to get worried because I wasn't worried. I began to worry so much that I sat here in the quiet for a while just crying and praying; "God, I don't know what to do. Please let me know, somehow someway, what I am supposed to do. If I am supposed to keep the girls home please just let me know beyond a shadow of a doubt. Let me sleep through my alarm. Something!" Eventually, I fell asleep and I slept until my alarm went off. I woke up praying, again, "God, let me know what you want me to do." I talked to a friend of mine, a fellow over-thinker..haha, about it real quick and in that short conversation I decided I was not going to let fear win and I wasn't going to let these people who are trying to instill this fear win. I was going to claim Psalm 56:3 and I was going to give this day to God. I wasn't going to fret and worry all day, the day was completely in His hands. I claimed that verse, I prayed for His peace that passes all understanding, and I gave my girls and the day to Him. I still prayed for God to let me know if I was not supposed to send my girls to school and I prayed that the whole way to school. Everything worked out, though. I got the girls up later than usual since I was still struggling yet with whether to send them or keep them home, they all got dressed and ready to go on time..without me rushing them, we left and normally would have hit a little traffic getting out of the neighborhood (I could see it coming and I was not going to be able to get ahead of it) but a kind woman stopped and let me out. We made it to school with time to spare without having to rush everyone in. I got everyone to their classrooms and although we always do, I made sure hugs were given and 'I Love You's' were said. After all was said and done, as I walked the halls of the school and back out to the truck, I prayed the entire way. I prayed for every teacher and every student and for the parents who, like me, had sent their kids to school, that we would have peace to get us through the day. And you know what? My day was full of peace...and I don't mean the peace of 3/4 of my children not being home. LOL And picking the girls up from school was all the more sweeter. God revealed Himself to me today and reminded me that when I cling to Him, He will always be there to comfort me. 

I am sure that you are wondering why I grouped both of these instances together when both really have nothing to do with one another. But they do have so much to do with one another. We are always under attack in some way, be it physical or spiritual, but we cannot live in fear. When we live in fear, fear wins and when fear wins we are not trusting God to take control of our lives. I heard a lot of "better safe than sorry" last night and today and I'll be honest, I thought that myself a couple of times. In the end, I chose to trust that God is going to protect me and my children and to give Him the control that I, as a human being, wanted so badly to take the reins of. Doing that gave me a peace and a freedom that I can't even explain. 9/11 is many times associated with "freedom" but unless you have that relationship with God where you just say, "God, this day is yours. I am yours. My children are yours. I give it all to you" you don't know freedom. I have read of and heard of this freedom many times but I can't think of another time that I truly gave Him complete control and didn't attempt to take it back but I can tell you now that I have tasted the true meaning and I have met with God and heard him say, loud and clear, "I told you so." ;)

Two verses that I urge you to claim daily, because this world is a scary scary place these days, would be Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I will trust in You" as well as Matthew 6:25, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,..." and when you claim them, truly claim them. Trust that God has your life in His hands and He loves you and will protect you. When you do this, you will experience a peace that passes all understanding. As I stated before, we don't truly understand what happened on September 11, 2001 and we likely never will because it is too much, mentally and emotionally, but when we give those memories and fears that that day forever ingrained on our lives to God He will give us that peace that passes all understanding and we can truly live life as He intended us to.

Never forget, friends. Never forget the sacrifices that occurred that day because it is a part of us now but in the same way don't forget that God was there that day and He understands and wants to give you the peace that only He can. If you don't know how to receive that peace, please ask someone. Ask me or ask someone you know that you trust that knows that peace already and I can promise you that they will be happy to share with you how you, too, can live a peaceful worry-free life in a scary and unpredictable world. 

Ciao!

Reliving those times

Last night there was a shooting at a church in Charleston. I know the church. I've never been to it but I've been by it many times. The shooting happened during a prayer meeting by a 21-year-old guy who had just sat through an hour of prayer and worship to God. How he could do what he did after that I'll never know. I don't think any of us will even if he were to try and give us some insight. He has been arrested and is in custody so maybe he will try and give some rhyme or reason but I doubt it will still ever make any sense. 

Something I don't know that I have ever shared, though I may have on an anniversary, is that when I was in high school there was a shooting at a sister church of mine, Wedgwood Baptist, during a See You At The Pole rally. Was I there? No. But I was supposed to me. My entire youth group was supposed to be. It had been planned and promoted for some time. It wasn't until the night of that we were told that we would not be going. I remember my youth minister telling us that he was sitting in his office and he just felt that God was telling us to stay put and do our own rally. And that's exactly what we did. That Wednesday night, as we were up in the Backstage room (had to throw that in there. There is no "Backstage" or "Backstage room" anymore but I think it is safe to say that it lives on in many many of our hearts.) there began to be a lot of commotion and then it was announced that there had been a shooting at the very church at the very rally that we were, at one point, supposed to be at. We prayed, we worship, and we mourned like we never had before. We did not mourn for anyone in particular, at that time we didn't know if there were any casualties or really what was going on, but we mourned for our peers who were there, we mourned for the person who did such an act because it was obvious that they had never felt the true love of God, and we mourned for the shattered safety and security that would never be the same at such events. We mourned for what was becoming of our world. After all, this was not too long after the Columbine shootings but this was home. Our home. That night, as clearly as I remember it, is also such a blur. I remember going home and I was numb. Completely numb. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I couldn't cry anymore, I wanted to cry but I couldn't, I just remember being at church, hearing the news, and then being at home sitting in front of the computer reading the latest news. No words being spoken to anyone, maybe I did, you'd have to ask my mom, but I was just that numb to everything. I remember my mom bringing me the phone and it was my grandfather, he wanted to talk to me (or maybe she called him to talk to me, I'm not sure) and I don't know that I really said anything to him. I remember him praying, me going through me motions, "uh-huh...ok...yeah." but I don't remember really engaging in the conversation or anything. It is kind of weird to look back upon because I don't know that I have ever had that same feeling or detachment since. 

All of these feelings and emotions came back last night when I first saw the news come through my Twitter feed and then all of the news notifications came pouring in on my phone and then my Facebook started blowing up. These people had just gone to their weekly prayer meeting where they were likely praying for the person who did this, albeit unknowingly, and from there so many lives were touched and changed. I know mine has been changed by the events that happened back in 1999. It is something that comes back to me at random times and something that I think about every time there is a rally or some large gathering. It is amazing how something that happened so long ago can feel so near and really affect your every day thoughts years later. Don't get me wrong, I don't live in fear and I don't dwell on those memories, sometimes it is a simple remembrance, other times it is an awareness of my surroundings, and yet other times it is a reminder of all of the blessings and protection that has surrounded me over the years. After all, I was supposed to be at that See You At The Pole rally at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas back in 1999 with my friends and were it not for a true man of God that my former youth minister is my memories of September 15, 1999 may have been quite different. 

One thing that I am certain of is that God is bigger than both of these tragedies. He knew they were going to happen and He knew who was going to be welcomed into His arm at that time. We may not understand why things like this happen and why God allows such things to occur when and where but He has his reasons. We don't have to know those reasons, we wish we were privileged to such explanations but we are not. One day we can ask God directly why He let such events happen but until then all we can do is rest in the fact that He is in control.

Hebrews 13:2

One day last week the girls and I decided that we were going to do some random act of kindness, per se, for our mailman. We went out and bought a gift card to Dairy Queen and then made a little card that said, "Summer is coming, it's gonna get hot. So stop and get you something, that hits the spot." I then forgot to actually put it in the mailbox until a couple of days ago. Oy. I know. Today we got a card back that said, "Thank you soooo....much for the ice cream. I was tired, hot and hungry, the timing was perfect." I don't say this to look for praise or pat myself on the back, I say this to say, 1. you never know what one little gesture to someone will do; whether you know them or not. Something so small as I card to tell someone "Hey, I thought of you today.." may be just what they need at that very moment. And 2. I say this as a reminder that God works in a variety of ways and though we may not know what someone is going through at that very moment, His timing is always perfect. 

After we had put the card and gift card all together I had intended to put it in the mailbox for the next day but that didn't happen. And it didn't happen again. Or again. But after I finally got it in there, THAT was the perfect timing. That day was the day that Mr. Bobby needed to be reminded that he is not just looked over and forgotten, he is thought of and appreciated. 

And that Dairy Queen still tastes amazing on a hot day. ;) 

Hellmann's VoxBox

They must think that I love food because Influenster chose me for the Hellmann's VoxBox this time. Not that they would be wrong, I do love food, I'm just saying. LOL I was not able to video opening the box because I was laid up on pain pills after surgery so my husband opened it for me. Now, let me start out by saying that I don't like mayonnaise. I never have. Mustard, love it! Mayo is a no go. However, I do like it IN things and my husband and children like it so it's all good. :) The product itself was just like the Hellmann's mayo that you know and love but the packaging I LOVE. I know it isn't the first squeezable mayo out there or anything but something about this bottling I love. I'm not sure what it is. It is easy to squeeze, direct where you want it to go, and the cap really does stay clean!  haha I don't usually have one particular brand of mayonnaise that I gravitate towards but I think it is safe to say that I will probably be getting another bottle of this next time I need some.

*note: I was sent this bottle of Hellmann's mayonnaise for free from Influenster in exchange for my honest review of it.*

Happy Memorial Day

I read something somewhere that said, in just, while we use this day to remember those who have given their lives for our country, we need not spend the day in mourning because those brave men and women would not want that; for they gave their lives not in vain but with pride. So today, my friends, while we are going about our day that is filled with laughter, love, family, and friends, let use remember why we are able to do so and unite in bringing the memories of those heroes along with us.

Happy Memorial Day, my friends.

My Norwex Review

I'm all for trying new things, especially if they have the potential to save me money and be better for my family. In comes Norwex. I finally decided to try it out so I got the Enviro-Cloth, I think it is called, and I got the Make-up Remover Cloths. 

I'll start with the Make-Up Remover Cloths...

I think that I like them. I am terrible about taking my makeup off at night so I usually wind up sleeping in it and just washing my face in the morning. Terrible, I know, but I am so tired at the end of the day that I just want to go to bed. Here is my solution, right?? I think so. I have used them night;y for about 3 days now and so far so good. I read a review online before I purchased them that some women's face broke out really bad after using them; I haven't had that issue. I'm not sure how clean my face feels since I don't get that tingly "ah" feeling but I know all of my makeup comes off...I can see it! And my mascara! That's a big thing because normally if I just use a washcloth and water I still get back all over my face and have to scrub my face again. With these I do not. I simply wipe y face and eyes and it comes clean off. That I like. I'll keep you posted but so far so good. 

Now, the Enviro-Cloth...uuhhh...meh. It does seem to work ok but I'm not sure how I feel about it. I still wound up going back over places with my Magic Eraser because I was not able to get everything up and there were a few spots that were not coming up. I also tried to get some ink off of my walls with the Norwex and it did not do a thing. It MAY have dulled the ink a bit but definitely did not pull it off. I went back over it with my Magic Eraser and it came clean off without half the effort. I have not tried dusting with the dry Norwex yet but maybe that is best for those. It reminds me of the micro-fiber cloths I get to clean my truck. o_O I did wind up cleaning my bannister with the Norwex cloth and it came clean but, then, that was just dirt and hand grime so it wasn't anything hardcore like my oven or counters. Or walls for that matter. I won't give up yet but as of right now I kind of wish I had saved my money. :/ 

Oh Be Careful Little Tongue What You Say

Food for thought for the night: Friends, please watch what you say on FB/Instagram/Twitter/Your Blog. I realize that it is *yours* and that is all fine and dandy but sometimes not every anger and frustration needs to be broadcast. You never know who is watching you and who is watching you on social media so please be mindful. Some of the things I have seen on my Facebook tonight has made me sad for not only my children and their generation but glad that I am able to homeschool my children and be the one who is the consistency in their life. It should always be a parent, in my opinion, who is the consistency but I remember being a teacher to some very sweet inner-city children who didn't have much more than me in some cases and other than showing them Christ every day my greatest accomplishment was being the consistency and the love and the all the hugs (they could ever want) that they could count on every single day. As cliche as it sounds, what would Jesus do? I think He would "put up with" the fights, the yelling, the backtalk, the snot, the germs, the whatever as long as it meant that that child was experiencing Him. Don't let your worldly body and emotions take over, remember that we are called to be like Christ and He will give you the strength and immunity (both physically and figuratively) that you need. Goodnight, my friends.