Today I’d like to share a few thoughts from my children on this holiday season.

First, from my 17 year old daughter:

Growing up, I always knew that Christmas was about Jesus and celebrating His birthday.  As I’ve gotten older, I have noticed that not a lot of people acknowledge what Christmas is truly all about.  Instead, they focus more on Santa Clause.

Also, I have seen a lot of people shorten Christmas to “X-mas,” which disturbs me because it is like taking Christ completely out of Christmas.  My family and I will continue to say Merry Christmas and to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

When I asked my 10 year old daughter, “What does Christmas mean to you?” she responded with, “Love, peace, and joy.”

While Christmas has now come and gone, we trust that our readers have kept Christ in Christmas and that your holiday was filled with love, peace, and joy straight from our Lord and Savior who was once a little baby laying in a manger … baby Jesus!

Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

It isn’t about the presents under the tree.  It is about the greatest gift that we could ever receive, and that is the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  He came as a tiny baby to save the world.  He took on a human form to walk the face of the earth, and He was tempted just as you and I are today. Yet, He did not give into the sins of the world.  He became angry just as you and I do, yet He did not sin in His anger.

He showed us what it was like to live, to love, to give … and He gave all … He died for you and I.

Please take time today to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday.  Please make time for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ so that you will have eternal life in Heaven with Jesus and all of the loved ones that have gone on before you, if you only believe in Him.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Light Love Hope.

This past weekend was full of experiences for us as a family, as well as our horses.

We just became a horse family in March of 2014.  There has been this longing in our hearts for horses all of these years, but for some reason, we had this idea in our heads that it was way too expensive to own horses.  All of this time, we pushed our desire to be horse owners to the back of our minds and focused on other things.  That longing never went away, though.  Finally, this year we decided to look into it a bit more, and we are so glad that we did.  Not only did we find that horses truly aren’t that expensive, we have come to realize that no matter the expense, you would gladly do for these horses that bring so much joy and happiness into your lives.

We truly had no idea just how much horses heal.

Sure, we knew that we loved horses and enjoyed watching them as they moved in such a fascinating manner displaying grace and power at the same time.  Little did we know how these massive creatures would make their way deep into our hearts where they now reside.  They aren’t just an “expensive hobby” as I’ve heard some uneducated people refer to them.  These gentle giants are a form of therapy!

We embarked on two journeys that were definitely out of our comfort zone this past weekend.  One was having the horses lined up in the Christmas parades in different towns.  Our entire family was delighted when we received the invitation to ride in the parades.  It would have been easy to allow fear to hold us back.  Fear of the unknown.  Fear of what “might” happen.  You know, that all familiar “what if” syndrome that we all suffer from on different occasions.  Still, we decided not to cave into our fears and not to allow our fears to control us.  Instead, we forged ahead and dedicated Saturday as our parade day.

The morning began with getting up bright and early to round the horses up and get ready for the 10 a.m. parade.  We had to get up at 6 a.m. to get everything packed, horses loaded, etc.  Then we were on our way to wait in the line up an hour before the parade was to start.  There were horses all over the place at the first parade, and I’ll admit to feeling a little intimidated at first due to the size of some of those horses.  Then there were horses that really shouldn’t have been out there as they certainly didn’t appear to be tame enough to behave in a parade setting.  Still, the owners must have had more confidence than we all did as they had them ready to line up, too.  Needless to say, we let them go ahead of us so we could bring up the rear in the parade.  We had no problem whatsoever in being last.  Hey, in our minds, they saved the best for last!  Can you tell that we are extremely proud of our horses?

Just as we felt a twinge of intimidation at the other horses initially, it is easy for us humans to feel intimidated by others.  Our horses may feel a bit insecure as well next to other massive creatures, or they can fit right in.  It all depends on the personality of the horses, just as it does on the personalities of humans.  However, take a shy horse and a rider that once felt insecure themselves and pair them together, and watch what happens!  They bond together and make a great partnership.  They know that they depend on each other and their confidence also bounces off of each other.  When the shy horse appears unsure, the insecure rider has to push that insecurity aside and take charge, holding her head up high and shoulders back with such confidence, even if she is faking it until she makes it at first.  Pretty soon, both horse and rider begin to heal each other.  The horse is no longer shy and timid in situations but forges ahead with such grace and confidence in each stride with their partner on their back.  Horse and rider become one, and it is beauty in motion.

We ended up having the best time in the parade!  My ten year old daughter was on her pinto pony in front of me with my husband walking alongside her just in case anything were to happen.

My 17 year old daughter was walking beside me with a bag of candy that she was tossing out to children that lined the streets.  I was sitting proudly on my horse, Sugar.  My husband joked that it wasn’t a beauty pageant or anything, it was a parade.  While that is true, I was allowing my Sugar girl to strut her stuff as I sat perched on her proudly waving and saying, “Merry Christmas” to the little children.  Oh it did my heart so much good when their little faces would light up because someone acknowledged them.  More people should acknowledge the little children and make them feel special, because they are!

One particular thing that stood out in my mind from that first parade is the fact that among those lining the street were children with Down Syndrome.  They all gathered with the sweetest little faces, smiling as big as could be as they looked at us as we started to make our way by them.  My 17 year old daughter walked over and handed them a bunch of candy, and my heart melted right there seeing her being so sweet, kind, loving, and gentle to these children.  She told me later that while she was instructed to toss the candy at the people lining the streets, she could not bring herself to toss candy at the children with Down Syndrome.  I told her she did the right thing by taking it to them and placing it in their hands, looking them in the eyes and smiling softly to them.  I know that she made a difference in their lives that day, even in that brief moment in time.  She touched their hearts, and she touched mine in watching this exchange between them.

The horses that we once feared wouldn’t do that great in the parade actually surprised us all.  They were amazing as we made our way back through the crowded streets, this time unescorted by the police.  Not only were we unescorted, but the police did not even help us across the streets with our horses.  We were on our own at this point.  I’ll admit that I did feel a little anxiety rising up in my chest at the thought of crossing that busy intersection on horseback, but we had to get back to our trailer so this was the only way.  My 17 year old daughter decided she wanted to ride back so I got off of Sugar and let her get on while I walked alongside her this time.  I lead the way through the busy streets, doing hand signals when we were ready to turn, and then the moment came when we were approaching the busiest intersection of all.  Fear could have consumed me and crippled me at that point, but what good would that have done?  We would have been stuck in that congested area with frightened horses, then, as they feel exactly what we are feeling.  Instead, I held my head up high and took up my lane as if I owned it.  I stood right in the middle of the lane right next to other cars that were turning when we were wishing to go straight as soon as the light turned green.  And we walked across that busy intersection “like a boss,” as my daughter would say!  The traffic did not even phase the horses one little bit.  You know why?  Because the rider and handler were calm and undisturbed by the chaos, traffic, and congestion of that busy intersection.  Because we were confident, our horses were, too, and they did wonderfully that morning!

We went on to our second parade where we lined up an hour before the 3 p.m. parade was to start.  This was my favorite of the two that day.  We were positioned behind Santa once again, which was fine as we were bringing up the rear in this parade, too.  The ROTC and the marching bands were in front of Santa, and we got to hear the beautiful music being played.  When once nervous about this, our horses were outstanding once again as the music from the band never spooked them.  They remained calm, just as we were, and I think they enjoyed the parade as much as we did!

There were children lining the streets for this parade, too.  Sugar wore a Santa hat in this parade, though, with me wearing a cowboy hat to match my husband and daughter.  The Santa hat on Sugar was a big hit with the children.  I smiled all the way down to my toes when I would see their little hands cover their mouths as they pointed, giggled and talked about Santa Horse.  People were snapping pictures as we waved and said, “Merry Christmas.”

All in all, it was a wonderful experience venturing out on these horse Christmas adventures with my family this past weekend!  There’s nothing better to get you in the Christmas spirit!

There they are in wheelchairs lined in the hallways slumped over looking down at their hands.  Occasionally, they will lift their head to smile at whomever walks past, hoping to catch their eye and have them stop to chat for a moment.

People rush by in a hurry hardly acknowledging their existence, fearing to make eye contact with these individuals that were once vital people in the community.  Now they are the often forgotten ones in nursing homes around the nation.  Whether they served our country by fighting in a war, or they served meals to their family day in and day out, they were the hands and feet going, doing, and giving at some point in their life.  Now they spend the rest of their days in this nursing home either bedridden or confined to their wheelchairs, looking at the same four walls day in and day out hoping someone, anyone would take up some time with them.

Through the years, I have visited with the residences of different nursing homes.  As a small child, I remember walking the halls with my grandmother as she would take us to see my great grandmother on certain Sundays of the month.  I hated seeing the people like that.  I would get so sad as we walked down the hall passing the rooms with the doors cracked where you could see right in at the once vital souls now alone in their rooms.  And then we would walk into my great grandma’s room where she would lay due to recovering from a broken hip from a fall.  She looked so small in that hospital bed that looked like it was about to swallow her whole.  We would walk slowly toward her to stand by her bedside, and within a few minutes she would sense that we were there and turn to give us the biggest, widest, most sincere smile as she tried to speak.

Her speech was broken now, and although she tried with all of her might to get the words out, half of it was audible.  Oh how it tugged at my heart to see her in this shape.  Yet, we would visit and bring a little bit of sunshine with us each time into my great grandmother’s life.

Fast forward many years later, I joined a gospel group where we would go around to the different nursing homes to sing.  Oh, I never forgot the way it felt when I’d go see my great grandma, and I remembered her each and every time I’d walk down the halls.  I can still see her smiling face today even though she’s been gone for years.

A few years ago, I went to work at a nursing home.  I would pass these precious people in the hallway every morning on my way to clock in and would once again feel the tug on my heart for these individuals.  Some would not have any visitors, while others had a multitude in and out throughout the week.  I would speak, and the all familiar smile would spread across their faces to know that someone took the time to acknowledge them.  They felt in that moment that they mattered again … because they did, and they still do.

As you’re gathering around with your friends and family this holiday season, would you consider going to visit those at the nursing home?  Maybe there’s someone in your family that you need to visit, or perhaps it’s someone that used to go to your church that would like a visit now.  Even strangers need to feel loved, and what better time to show that love and care than at Christmas?

Oh I know what you’re thinking.  You just can’t handle going in there and seeing them in this shape.  While it is not often pleasant, it can be the biggest blessing that your heart will receive if you just take the time with the often forgotten souls that now line the halls of the nursing home.

I’ll never forget when I sang with the gospel group and how this one little lady blessed my heart and soul so much.  When we started singing the old hymns that she grew up on, this little lady, sitting in her wheelchair so eloquently dressed with her jewelry, scarf, and wrapped up nicely in her Sunday best, started singing so sweetly and as loudly as her little voice would allow.  I watched this little lady come alive.  When she once sat quietly in the corner, she blossomed when the beautiful piano music floated through the air and tickled her ears.  When we began to sing those old familiar tunes, a wide smile formed across her lips and she perked right up, eyebrows raised, as she lifted her voice in song with us. I even took the microphone over to her at one point to give her a moment in the spotlight.  She was a blessing to me that day for sure, and each time we’d go back, I looked for this sweet little lady.

If you’re not sure how to go about scheduling a visit, call your local nursing home to speak to the activities director.  They will schedule a time and allow you to bring in instruments or even gifts for the residence, if that is your wish.

You can make a difference in someone’s life.

Christmas will be here in a few short days.  If you’ve been searching high and low for the perfect present, we hope you’ll realize that it just cannot be found in the store.  You cannot purchase it, but it is a gift that will be treasured long after the decorations have been boxed back up and stored away until next year.

What is this I speak of?  It is the gift of time.

Everyone is so busy in the world today.  They are pulled this way and that way, and everything crowds in around them.  Is it any wonder that people feel so stressed in general, but especially around the holidays?

What if we all just slowed down?

What is the harm in that?

Why do you have to go more, do more, or be more?  Why can’t you just be still?

The bible tells us to be still and know that He is God.  Do we need anyone else’s approval or permission to just be still?  It’s right there in God’s word.

If we’re troubled, just be still and know that He is God.

If we’re stressed, just be still and know that He is God.

If we feel like there is no end in sight and no way to overcome the pain in our lives, just be still and know that HE is God!

And, what better time to be still with the ones that you love than at Christmas?

Slow things down a little this holiday season and give the gift of time!

Why rush through your days trying to get everything done when you’re already stressed to the max?  Guess what?  You don’t have to!

No one is putting pressure on you to be perfect or get it “just” right or even to have your house perfectly decorated like pictures in the Better Homes & Garden Magazine.  No one is pressuring you to cook like Betty Crocker or Paula Dean.  Just do the best that you can.

Don’t let this holiday season pass with you always being in a tizzy and falling into bed exhausted at night just to do it all over again in the morning.  Slow down and allow yourself to enjoy this very special season with your family.

That’s what it’s all about!  Family time!!

Stop long enough to play with your children.  The added decorations don’t matter.  No more lights need to be strung around your house.  No more decorations need to be added inside either.  Take time now to snuggle with your family in front of the fireplace.  Turn the lights down, put on a few scented candles, and enjoy the lights on the tree as you have hot chocolate and read Christmas stories or watch them on television.  OR better yet, gather around to sing Christmas songs!

The month of December is flying by, and Christmas will come and go so fast it will make you wonder where all the time you thought you had has gone.  Before you know it, you’ll be tearing down that Christmas tree and packing everything away only to sigh heavily and wonder what happened to YOUR happy holiday.

Don’t let this happen to you and your family.  Make time for them.  They are all that truly matters any way.  It’s not about presents under the tree.  It’s about the presence of God in your life and the presence of your family within arm’s reach to give them a snuggle, a hug, or a jab in the rib as you tickle them playfully or let them ride on your back like a horsey.

Take time.

You’re making memories and leaving a legacy.

I have been pondering Christmas for a number of reasons.  I guess as I’ve grown older, Christmas does not mean what it once did.  When there was so much fuss over presents and what material items were on our “wish lists,” we have grown to realize that no amount of money spent could come close to comparing to quality time with our loved ones.  It’s not about the material possession that we stand to gain as we gather around the tree anticipating what’s in the boxes underneath the red and green wrapping paper complete with bright shiny bows.  It’s what is inside of our hearts and in our arms that matter most.  If we have unconditional love tucked inside our hearts and the ones that mean the most to us held within our arms, what more could we possibly want or need?

Do we purposely stop to consider what Christmas is all about any way?  We should.  It isn’t about the presents under the tree at all, or at least it shouldn’t be!  The focus should be on Jesus who came into this world as a little tiny baby.  This little one came to save the world!  If we only believe in Him and ask Him into our hearts … why does that seem so hard for so many people when it really is quite simple?

At this time of year everyone seems so much nicer.  They have a smile on their faces and seem more cheerful than they have all year long.  It seems to be the magic in the air around Christmastime, and all of this has gotten me to thinking …

What if it were Christmas all year?

Why can’t it be?

I don’t wish to take away from this special time of year at all.  However, if you think about how everyone is showing more concern, care, and compassion for their fellow man at this time of year, I can’t help but ask:  Why can’t we move that into every day of the year?  Why do we save it for just a month out of the entire year?  When there is so much love inside of your heart, why not share it more often?

If you stop to be kind and considerate to strangers during the month of December because you’re in the spirit of the holidays, why not carry that over to the other 11 months of the year?

If you put priority on helping to feed the homeless and the less fortunate during the last month of the year, are you not concerned about those same individuals as the calendar flips to a new year?

If you strive to help places such as the Women’s Shelter provide clothing for the abused and neglected women and children that now call this place their “home,”  do you not think of them at any other time of the year?  Why now?  Why not more often?  Their struggles are real 365 days a year, not just for one that marks the 25th day of December.

Am I the only one that feels this way?  Or do you feel it, too?  You … there … the one reading this.  Is it resonating with you as well?  What can we as the human race do to help more people, to reach more souls in need on just more than one calendar day a year?

Oh how I wish it could be Christmas all year.