a lot like christmas

i was rejoicing out loud to k2 that i had monday off (to recuperate from festival) and he said "yay! a four-day weekend!". and we had these huge smiles on our faces. then we looked at each other, focused, and i realized what he then said out loud, "wait - a one-day weekend!". my smile was not as big then.

but i still smiled.

this festival has put a lot of things in perspective for me. i haven't had time to buy gifts. i've declined several invitations to christmas parties. and i've had zero time to figure out what our christmas plans are.

but i have given a lot of my time away. i've invited a lot of people in the community to a church event. i've made free tickets available to people who need them. i've smiled at hundreds of people i don't know and wished them a merry christmas, a great program, or just given them kind attention. i've picked trash up off the floors and wiped soapy water off bathroom counters so people would have a clean church to visit. i've gotten a lot of volunteers involved in the festival, and thus benefiting our church and the community. i've contributed cookies to the bake sale where the proceeds go to 3e McKinney. i've moved furniture. i've stayed up late. i've prayed - no, CRIED out to God for this event to be a success in His eyes.

i've thought about the people coming and how much they just might need God. i've been concerned over how much time and energy other people have been spending and praying they will find rest and peace. i've looked outward instead of inward. i've labored in prayer over those who God is bringing to this event who may, for the very first time, experience God's love.

i've been about God and others.

i'd say it sounds a lot more like christmas than my christmas usually does.