Merry Christmas my friends! (It is officially Christmas day here in Oman! It’s 1:30AM)
I’m not really sure what I am making this blog to be aside from wishing my friends and family a Merry Christmas. I am certainly grateful for the blessings that each and everyone of you reading this has been on my life. The words of encouragement and prayers are much appreciated and mean so much. The times that you have reached out to me or I can look back at the journal gifted to me with love, wisdom, and encouragement have made my days and make me truly realize that I have been blessed with an amazing community.
I guess it would only be fitting that reflecting on this Christmas season and the community around me that I would reflect on some things about me that make me grateful for this blog, even though I’m not great at writing them, and how it allows me to reach you and give you a message.
Something that I have come to realize about myself, thanks to a test called strengths finder and now being on the field, is that I am very big on this thing called inclusiveness. One of the things that has mattered to me for as long as I can remember is that everyone has a place.
I still remember a day when I was around 8 or 9 and I had two of my closest friends over. Zach and I hung out with these two friends all the time, just not both of them at the same time. That meant this time was different. But, unfortunately these two friends started arguing. What about? I cannot remember, I think it had to do with one leaving because of the other. But, I do remember interrupting their argument and on the verge of tears just saying that I wanted them to get along because I didn’t want either one of them to leave and wanted everyone to get along and be included.
Now, perhaps that isn’t the best example but I really just find that story humorous and have never had any context in which to share it.
All that to say, the great thing about this blog is that it helps to satisfy this desire to share things with people that are close to me. People that care about me and I them. I am always wondering on holidays if I reached out to all the people I wanted to or if I left people out. I know you can’t reach out to everyone but I want to reach out as much as I can. So, I am grateful for this blog because I can send a Merry Christmas message to so many people right now!! I am only missing people who aren’t subscribed.
So, Merry Christmas from Oman! I’ll try to get some updates out as soon as I can and let you all know what has been going on. Tell a little about Djibouti and how much I loved it and how Oman has been amazing, and also what I expected but not. Hope all of you have great Christmas with family and friends. If you see anyone in my family give them a hug for me! This is my first Christmas away from home and the usual factor for it feeling like Christmas was being back home, maybe things will sink in soon.
But till then, remember the importance including and being included. Sometimes this means having to lay down the pride we have to welcome even the least of these. This means forgiving where forgiveness seems unlikely. It could look like an long list of things that I will let you ponder on. But whatever is coming up in your mind, maybe that is what God is wanting you to consider doing.
Merry Christmas!
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Luke 2:14
