Staff Christmas Memory Countdown! 

  
Written By: Cheyenne Ranta

When you think of Christmas, you think of presents, twinkling lights and snow falling outside your warm, cozy house. You stress about getting the “perfect” gift, whether it’s for your brother, sister, parents, or friends. You’re preparing your house and baking all sorts of mouth-watering foods for your Christmas party. You run from one end of the house to the other, making sure everything is just right. The aroma from your freshly baked apple pie is filling the house.

You stop to take a deep breath, taking in the smell! Your house is full of loved ones and laughter! Gathered around the warm fire you know that all the long hours of preparation was worth it. Everyone enjoyed the tasty food and complimented your beautiful decorations. You smile, thinking “Everything is perfect!”
But is it?
While you’re out trying to find that perfect gift, baking, decorating and having your house filled with loved ones, remember that there is someone out there dreaming for just that. Some do not know what it’s like to be surrounded by friends and family for the holidays or even at all! There are some that have approached Christmas with dread. Many families spend the holidays with endless fighting, refusing to take responsibility for their actions. Christmas can bring financial burdens to families, making Christmas shopping stressful. Then there is a loss of a loved one that causes the aching of the heart when you see the empty chair. There are many that Christmas brings heartache to.
We are so absorbed in our own lives that we don’t even realize that there are so many people who would “die” to have what we have, while we selfishly want more. Some of us may be blessed enough to have all the exciting things that comes along with Christmas, but that’s not really what it’s all about.
I don’t know what you are going through, but I know personally that Christmas has not always been cheerful.
When I accepted Jesus into my heart, He gave me Hope, Joy, and Peace! He gave me a new outlook on things! He helped me to realize that you may not have the best decorated house, or you might not get to see your family or your heart may be aching from your loss, but take comfort.  
No matter where God has placed you, let me encourage you that Jesus is, and always will be,

the Perfect Gift.
Until Next Time,

~Cheyenne