God had a different plan for me than I did on Christmas. I wanted to wake up and go to the market to buy gifts for some village kids to give out, workout with the girls, hang out with the kids, eat Christmas dinner with another teama and watch some movies. I thought it was a simple and a well thought out plan. I wanted to plan so that I would not be homesick and I could bless others on Christmas like I have been blessed every year of my life. Instead I woke up at 4:00 in the morning and was sick. I had either a stomach bug or food poisoning. So, I just laid in bed all day and watched movies (At least part of my original plan was in there). I did hang out with some team members but I did not feel well at all. Back and forth, bed, toilet, bed, toilet, kitchen, bed, toilet… over and over. The day was long and not ending. Or so I thought.
I've had this plan since 2 weeks before Christmas so I was stoked to be able to share presents and bless others. Yes, I was a little bitter that everyone was off doing things on Christmas and other teams were blessing kids. If you know me well then you know that it makes my day to be around kids and buy them presents. I questioned about why I was sitting in my room and not doing anything while others were out. I did not feel like I needed to rest or need a Christmas lesson but I did and God definitely thought I did.
What happened was I was taking him out of the day and why we celebrated Christmas and just wanting to buy presents to give out for my benefit and not his. That isn't why we celebrate Christmas. I was overwhelmed with so much giving that I forgot what Christmas stood for on the biblical sense. If can get to you when you are in another country and see so many kids who have never received or celebrated Christmas. God really taught me that to be a blessing to others can happen any day. Christmas gifts do not have to be given to children just on Christmas. Some of the shoeboxes that come from America are not even received till Late January or Feb. He also taught me calmness and peace during the holidays. Sometimes we get caught up with the hustle and bustle and the time spent with him is very limited.
On this day it was a time of thankfulness, peace, calmness and clarity that even though I could not give gifts on Christmas did not mean I was not a blessing to the children at all over this past month. The children did get school supplies but not on Christmas day. I received a few gifts from God this Christmas that he knew I needed.
What did you receive this Christmas?
