Christmas is over. The tree and decorations are tucked away until next year. We are anticipating wonderful things for our family in 2011. All is well.

As I reflect on Christmas, I remember as a child asking Mom and Dad year after year what they wanted for Christmas. Their response was always the same. “I don’t need a thing,” or “I have everything I could want,” or “Don’t spend any money on me,” or “I just want us all to be happy.” I couldn’t imagine how anyone could say, “I have everything I could want.”  I, of course, always had a long list of items I hoped would be under the tree. A pink Barbie convertible, an Easy Bake oven, a snow-cone machine, a troll doll, a bike, a jean-jacket, and on and on and on. When it came time to unwrap the gifts, I was never disappointed.

Now, I’m the mom. When my children ask me what I want for Christmas or my birthday or Mother’s Day, I hear myself saying, “I don’t need a thing,” or “Don’t spend any money on me,” or “I just want us all to be happy.” I understand now. There’s nothing I need, and I no longer have a list of things I hope to find under a tree.

Instead, as a mom, here’s my list. More than anything, for Christine, David, Taylor, Hunter, Reagan, Jessica, Brad, Braden, Emma, Daniel, Lisa, Lillian, Wilson, Anna, and Stephen:

·         I pray for them to fulfill the purposes and calling of God on their lives.

·         I pray for them to have all of their needs met.

·         I pray for them to enjoy each other.

·         I pray for them to be healthy in their body, mind and spirit.

·         I pray for them to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

·         I pray for their homes to be filled with happy children who love Jesus.

·         I pray for them to love people.

·         I pray for them to always walk in the truth.

·         I pray for them to be full of peace and free from fear and oppression.

·         I pray for them to have good friends and be good friends.

·         I pray for them to be delivered from evil.

·         I pray for them to walk in favor with God and man.

·         I pray that they will listen for, hear, and obey the voice of God.

·         I pray that they will have divine protection every day of their lives.

·         I pray for them to be generous givers.

So, I have everything I need, and like moms everywhere, “I just want us all to be happy.” And we are.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 at 3:26 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can trackback from your own site.