The REAL GIFTS

Tears trickled down my cheeks as I stood in a bookstore in Brasil reading this page. I bought the book, tore out this page and have it framed in my kitchen. With all of my preparation and expectations for the Holidays and everydays of the year...I must remember this.

In Portuguese: As nubens quase param para ver as pinturas da mulher que nem ve as pinturas que faz.

In English: The clouds could have gone but stayed steady to see the paintings the woman doesn't see she has done.

Christmas may be calmer and kinder if we could see it through the eyes of OUR SAVIOR whom we are Honoring. I believe that His eyes would value the painting of a mother doing laundry for her family more than all of the Great Paintings in all of the Great Galleries of the World. I believe He values the planning and preparation and love and the cleaning and laundry and wiping off of the counter and the bedtime stories and hugs more than all of the Beautifully wrapped Gifts combined.

Quiet gratitude, caring, loving, even the tired moments of serving and trying to make things special for our families....(and for His family...those in the shopping lines, our neighbors, any kid on a bike...or grandma on the back row at church...) those ARE the Gifts.
I need to remember that.