Preparing For Christmas | Unplug

Tap. Tap. Tap. Scroll. Scroll...

While the children play they sit, there phones in there hands as if it were part of them.  Their eyes glued to the screen- paying no attention to their children. Whatever is on their screens it commands their full attention. Aliens could have abducted them and they would never have known.

Is this how you want your kids to remember the Holidays? Through a screen? How do you remember Christmas growing up?

Turn off the Cell phones, the Television, the computer, the IPad, the video games, the 'whatever' that keeps your family separated in their own little world. You don't know who will be with you next year, or whose chairs will remain empty. Treasure the 'now', because it will never come again. Your kids will never be this age again. Your grandkids will never be this age again, and your parents may not be with you next year.

Around this time last year my grandma passed away unexpectedly, leaving us to face Thanksgiving and Christmas without her for the first time since before I was born. She had lived with my parents since they were married and then suddenly she was gone... Every year she had been there decorating, baking, filling out cards, singing and finally supervising when she could no longer help. I will never forget the stories she would tell of years gone by...

Even when she couldn't remember what happened 5 minutes ago, she could sing Christmas carols. I have so many wonderful memories of being together this time of year. She loved Christmas. Which in turn she passed down to my sister and I. Its a special time of year, a time for family. For memories that you will treasure for the rest of your life. For laughter and baking and singing. For celebrating the birth of our savior.

Years later, once the gifts are all long forgotten, the wrapping paper thrown away and the lights burnt out that is what you will remember. The time spent together. Stop with the cellphone and look around you and treasure your family... so many others don't have what you have. Treasure them.