Christmas Contentment - Day 21 - Holiday Haiku Challenge
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Welcome to our 23rd day of the Holiday Haiku Challenge Today's haiku challenge is to write 17 poetic syllables inspired by the often ellusive concept,
Christmas Contentment
My dear friend Amber Lia shares a personal story on the subject, then wraps it up at the end with a haiku. If you are inspired, leave your own #holidayhaiku in the comment thread below.
Christmas Contentment
By Amber Lia
My husband thought it was a fun idea to put a pink feather boa and other gag gifts in my Christmas stocking that first year of marriage. Meanwhile, I thoughtfully wrapped all his favorite things. Ten years later, he still struggles with what to get me. Just today, I bought a gift from him, for me. He’ll wrap it. I’ll be happy and he won’t have to sleep on the couch.
Just kidding.
Sort of.
Like you, I want Christmas to be less about “stuff” and more about rejoicing over the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, but even with my best intentions, I can become disappointed when holidays roll around. My prayer for 2015 was that I would hunger and thirst for righteousness more than anything else. I wanted to grow in contentment and truly feel like peace ruled my heart and mind this year, despite my circumstances. When December arrives, my contentment can be severely tested. My birthday is the day after Christmas and so many expectations come into play. I want to focus on what really matters—the many blessing that are already mine to treasure. I also want to humble myself, much like we see in Jesus’ example:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
Jesus, the King of Kings came into the world in total humility, for the sake of the cross. And now He reigns exalted! Christmas is the ultimate opportunity for us to humble ourselves and to be content! Just as God loves His Son, I cherish the gift of my own three boys the most this holiday season. They bless my socks off and bring me so much joy! This year, I know that I won’t be getting diamond earrings or a fabulous handbag. But it’s not going to induce a pity-party. I have Jesus and my family. Everything else is blessing upon blessing.
If you've missed any of our Holiday Haiku Challenge, head on over to the beginning.
