WHY?

 It is no secret I live alone.  I am questioning why I decorate for Christmas.  This is not a new thought ---it happens every year about this time.  My Fort Worth grands are a busy lot and they may make it to my house and maybe not.  Part of the crew is headed north to the other side of their family  for the holiday.  The other part will be out of town for a few days before Christmas day, but when they get back they are always busy.  With 4 children ranging from 15 to soon 10, they are involved in tons of activities and all are very social.  I remember being those ages, and how much I loved being with my friends.   I understand their desire to be with their friends--they always have fun and do lots of activities together.  I get it!  SO, I can't count on them enjoying my decorated house.  My next door neighbor has 3 children ages 12 and down.  Their house is decorated top to bottom inside and out.  It is lovely and I enjoy seeing the lights, but do they really care if I decorate or not?  Everyone else on my end of the block does not have children at home.  SO--the question becomes WHY do I decorate?  I do it to enjoy the memories it envokes of those Christmas celebrations when I did have a house full.  The difference is---I am a minimalist decorator at this point.  I will put up a small tree, and put out a few treasured decorations which all have memories attached to them.  My decorating is for me----for the memory nudges they bring of sweet times which I thankfully still remember.   SO though I lack the abundance I once insisted upon, there is just enough to remind me of the long line of memories of Christmas past.  AND--I am thankful!

"You must be very careful

not to forget the things

you have seen

God do for you."

Deuteronomy 4:9 CEV