This morning I finished my coffee in the kitchen and slipped quietly into the living room. I laid down on the sofa listening to the battery-operated Santa play the same four tunes over and over again. I lay there admiring the decorated Christmas tree and searching for my name among all the presents underneath.
Christmas this year feels a little different for me; I will be 20 in January and I am not quite sure what I want. I do not have a list of this and that in that color and this size. Perhaps this is what growing up means? Not sure. But I do know that I wanted to remind myself to pause. Christmas is practically here and it came quickly. Just last week I was buried in study guides and index cards, but now I am home ordering gifts and helping with the finishing touches on the dining room table centerpiece.
I know the cliché wrapped in every Hallmark movie is,
“We should all take a pause around Christmas time and be thankful.”
So here goes, during the Christmas season we need to pause and acknowledge the things we are grateful for! I know for me, I am extremely grateful to go to school. I also am truly blessed with a great network of family members who care for me. I could write a book and list all the wonderful things each of my family members has done for me. So I am going to ask that on Christmas morning when everyone is sitting around the tree we pause and look around. As they open gifts with smiles on their faces, stop and remember what each of them has done for you.
Of course we must also pause and thank our Eternal Father above. I am grateful for Him always working in my life. He has certainly showed me He is doing just that. We should all be thankful that we are sons and daughters of the King. As well as the fact that He is constant and He will forever be on our side doing things for our good. He will never leave us, even if we leave Him.
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
One more thing I ask. For us to always remember the ones who do not have anyone on Christmas.
The ones who will not open gifts or sit around a table with loved ones.
The ones displaced and persecuted around the world.
And, for us to pray for those that do not know Him.
Pause…
Meet Hannah.
Our first grandchild born in January 1997. A delight in every sense.
Hannah is a Sophomore attending Liberty University, majoring in International Relations and Strategic Intelligence.
Hannah, a bright star on our family tree!
So sweet! I love this and your Hannah is beautiful!
Merry, merry Christmas!
XO
Tammy
Thank you Tammy! Have a Merry Christmas!
Love this, Hannah! Just LOVE it! Thank you and I do hope that your CHRISTmas will be just what your heart desires!
Kathy
Thank you Kathy! Glad you loved it, hope you and Kurt have a good Christmas!
Wonderful and refreshing!! I am so proud of this young lady and her insight as to what is important not only during this season but all year long.
Merry Christmas and God Bless you!
Thank you Betty! Have a Merry Christmas!!
No words are necessary Sestra.
Thank you Aunt Peg, have a merry christmas! xo
Hannah,
Never forget the gift you are to others as well! I think of you and Lindsey running up the hill across the street at your grandmas when you were both very small. Full of laughter and cheer! Life has changed for both of you and you have both done well! Keep that laughter beautiful one! Love to all! The Sirko’s
Thank you Martha! Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!
I love you Hannah!
~Laura~
I love you too Laura! Thank you for reading! Hope everyone in Visserville has a Merry Christmas xo
Gave us something to really think about…She is a lovely young woman and seems to have her head on straight…Blessings to Hannah and all her family for a great holiday season.
Thank you Sandy for reading, glad you liked it! Blessings to you and your family as well, have a Merry Christmas!
Susan, what fun to meet one of your grands and to hear her heart!
Blessings to you, Hannah!
Thank you for reading Michele! Have a Merry Christmas!
How wonderful to see the wisdom in her words as well as the lovely picture
Of Hannah! We would surely “miss the boat” of this blessed time if we didn’t pause—take a moment now to EXPERIENCE the Lord’s presence!
How amazing it is to realize that “God has signed on board this ship that I sail upon. I am never alone. The Lord is with me. For life, every second. Thru death, whenever, however it may come.”
Thank you Hannah, for reminding us to take a moment now to pause and experience the Lord’s presence.
Thank you for reading Ali! Yes, He is always with us no matter the circumstance and it is a recurring gift we receive each and every day from Him. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
I love this! Hannah is the same age as my middle one, and he, too, will be home from Uni for Christmas. I think it’s one thing for us “mature” ladies to see the need to pause and give thanks, but I’m SO encouraged at this beautiful young lady’s desire to do just that. Thanks for sharing. Blessings to your family this Christmas! Stopping by from #SittingAmongFriends 🙂
Thank you for reading Laura! Have a Merry Christmas!
What a beautiful reminder, Hannah! Yes, it is important to take that pause and consider all that God has done for us throughout the year–not the least of which was the coming of His Son in the form of a babe that would save us! Merry Christmas to you and your sweet grandma Susan! I can see that you are following in her godly footsteps! Oh, and “Go Flames!” My son and daughter in law both graduated from Liberty–he in 2012 and she in 2016. 🙂
Thank you for reading Beth! Hope you have a Merry Christmas as well!!
#FlameOn
Beautiful post! We need plenty of reminders to pause and really drink in the beauty of the season, remembering our precious Lord and Savior.
Thank you, Hannah, and thank you, Susan, for sharing! Blessings and have a wonderful Christmas. I’m your neighbor at #ThreeWordWednesday.
Thank you for reading Gayl! Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season! Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Hannah: I wrote you a post twice n it didn’t go through so I am trying again. You are a “bright star” mature beyond your years and an inspiration to us all. Merry Christmas.
Ha, thank you! Merry Christmas to you too!
I appreciated your lovely reminder to be thankful to our Heavenly Father and those we love. We are truly blessed and, as you said, there are those who are suffering right now fleeing the enemy with no where to call home who need our prayers and our caring. Beautiful thoughts from a beautiful young lady inside and out.
Thank you for reading Lynne! We are extremely blessed to be a part of his eternal kingdom. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!
So so proud of that gal! Hannah, you are an inspiration to all of us! A true delight!
Thanks Auntie M!
Hannah, this was just beautiful! It made me pause and took my breathe away with tears in my eyes because of your heart and of what a blessing you are! Your heart for Jesus and those who suffer or are alone and need Him is so special! You are your Mimz heart and you both are blessings to all of us that love you both! Merry Christmas Hannah! Xox
I’m glad you liked it Lisa! Thank you for reading. Hope you have a Merry Christmas! xo
Oh Hannah, this is truly beautiful! Thank you honey for sharing this and for being such a Blessing, I love you honey!
Thank you for reading Helemarie! Hope you have a Merry Christmas! Love you too!
So fun to see Hannah here! What a gift your words are.
Thank you for reading Tara! Have a Merry Christmas!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful and inspiring words with us Hannah! Today I am stopping and reflecting on all that I have to be thankful for. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas Sweet Hannah! Pause is an excellent word for this time of year because of the busyness of the season. An excellent word that we can apply all year round! So thank you for that. I always knew in my heart that God’s grace and guidance would be upon you throughout your life and this is just the beginning! I am truly looking forward to seeing where God is going to place you. I love you Hannah and thank you for sharing your wisdom. Have a blessed and happy new year! 20!!! ❤️