Mom Moment from MOPS

Christmas Stood Still
Carol Kuykendall, Director of Strategic Projects

"This year, things are going to be different!"Year after year, I made that passionate vow in November, only to discover at this point in December, things were just the same. "Things" like too much to do in too little time...shopping, decorating, cooking, wrapping, mailing...all my responsibilities because I assumed "the mom" was in charge of everyone's Christmas spirit. Yet our three children - now grown - remember a Christmas that was different, and it's become their favorite Christmas memory. It's the year that our Christmas world stood still.

Snow started to fall early on Christmas Eve morning along the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Soon the wind began to blow, creating an instant blizzard, and within a few hours, the world around us began to shut down. Never mind the shopping wasn't done. Never mind the groceries not yet in the refrigerator for the traditional feast. Never even mind our Christmas Eve church program and other plans. Never mind what was not done.

A magical stillness descended upon our family as two feet of snow piled up around our home. So we created our own candle-light celebration of Jesus' birthday. We made countless snow angels. We stomped around the neighborhood, talking to people we hadn't seen since summer. We absorbed the wonder of this unplanned, God-given gift.That Christmas, God wrapped our celebration in a magnificent fluffy white blanket that slowed us down and prepared us to receive his gift of Jesus.My responsibility as a mom? Only to fully receive the wonder of this unplanned gift. Things were really different that year. And it's my favorite Christmas memory too.

Prayer From a Mother's Heart
Dear God, help my children to enjoy unexpected surprises in life.