May My Heart See...

Christmas was one of my mom’s favorite holidays.   She loved Christmas.   She loved everything about it and she made it VERY SPECIAL.   One of our “traditions” was that no matter where we were, if it was at her parents’ house (as small children) or later as adults, when we opened presents, she ALWAYS opened her presents last.   It was like the “ta-da!” to the day.   I vividly remember this because we made such a big deal out of it. Everyone wondered, did she get what she wanted?   - did dad get THE PERFECT PRESENT this time? – what would her reaction be - we would wait with baited breath . . . . phew!   S-U-C-C-E-S-S!  or uh-oh, this ain’t good!! I wonder now what WAS she looking for?   What WAS the perfect present or the perfect ending to this holy day?   Would she EVER get what she EXACTLY wanted . . . EVER? I find myself reacting the same way (unfortunately) . . . looking for the perfect gift . . or reaction . . . or...

Who is Jesus to you?   Have you thought about that this Christmas? In Biblical times, your name meant who you were.   It was your identification. Matthew 1:20-21 says: But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.   She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” In my case, my name is Debra Ann Christine Lutz Tuttle Lutz Heyer (WOW!)  Christine is my confirmation name from when I was confirmed as a Catholic.  Lutz is my birth name, Tuttle from when I was adopted and then as an adult, changed it back to Lutz . . .  anybody bored yet?   I think what this all means is that I've lived a full life, what do you think? "Debra"  means “little bee”.   (HUH? – I am ...

I know what the reason for the season is and I know what Christmas is all about.   I mean, I try to remember the REAL reason for the season but in the middle of my decorating and the baking and the card writing and my partying and my hosting and my buying, it gets difficult.    There is so much to do and being the “mom”, I gotta do it!   Its my own fault, really.   The perfectionist in me says the house HAS to be this way, the cookies have to be baked (not bought), the cards HAVE to be sent, etc. etc.   That’s part of Christmas.   That’s how I celebrate Christmas anyway.   (WRONG!) Now, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, had it right, didn’t she?   Luke 2 says: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”   So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the mang...

Giving gifts at Christmas time, or any other time of the year for that matter, is a beautiful way to express love, don’t you think?   To be a perfect givER , someone who “knows” what to give someone PERFECTLY and then following through, is something I strive for.   My friends and family will tell you I have not yet attained the title (and probably never will), but you can’t blame me for trying, I suppose. I LOVE to give gifts!   Recently, after a midnight excursion, hunting for bargains and waiting in lines for hour S , my niece told me that she thought   that THAT was what “ giving was all about, going out and trying to find exactly what the person wants at the best price, no matter what it takes, or how long it takes.”    So the more work it takes, the better the gift – or should I say, "more meaningful, more PERFECT"?   What do you think?   It was obvious the “work” of bargain hunting that evening (and morning) was not fun, but ...