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Christmas Eve at Church

December 24, 2016 By Christine Field

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This year’s Christmas Eve service at church was wonderful. The anticipation of the season, along with the pageantry, lights, and music was spectacular.

I especially enjoy watching moms with their kids. I watch and remember.

christmasatchurch

Kids running down the aisle, feeling the freedom of the open space.

One of my kids ran up and laid on the floor right in front of the pastor once. She would not be moved.

I played peek-a-boo with the little boy in front of me and remembered.

An infant’s plaintive cry behind me. The banging of little feet on the chairs ahead of me.

Our pastor has a way of standing with one foot in front of the other, arms gesturing, as if he was bracing himself to support the weight and the power of his words. And the words he spoke were mighty, reaching out to the hearts and souls of the listeners, with light and hope hanging like a fragrance in the air. We all breathed deeply.

Then my gaze shifted to the mama of multiples simply trying to wrangle her kids to keep them in the pew.

And I remembered.

The Lord brought children into my life by surprise. He settled the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children. (Psalm 113:9) It has blessed me in so many ways.

Most significantly, forcing me to think through how different my life would be if there were no small souls left in my care. Through the hardship and the joy, they have taught me that life is so much bigger than my petty needs and wants. I believe I would be bitter and barren, wondering if I had missed the mystery and joy of it all.

Instead I have grown in ways I never expected. My heart has expanded and grown while my temporal resources diminished. It was a holy exchange I will never regret.

I learned the joy and pain of true love, and bumped repeatedly against the limits of unconditional love.

So, on Christmas, I remember all He has done for me.

And I stand before Him as a mother of grown children with empty arms but with hope fulfilled and a lifetime of memories that shine brightly like the lighted candles that expand across the sanctuary.

And I thank Him for the wild ride and privilege of it all.

Filed Under: Adventure, Holidays, Holidays, Home and finances Tagged With: christmas eve, christmas eve and church

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Hi, I’m Christine

Have you been a wholehearted mother, but time, toddlers and teenagers have moved on? If you are wondering what comes next for you, you’ll feel right at home here.

Or, are you a mom for whom family life has been non-Pinworthy and parenting has been downright painful? I hear ya. There are many of us around.

Are you looking for a life full of exploration and adventure after the nest empties, but maybe you have no idea how to go about doing that? Stick around! We’ll explore adventures together to help you gain more clarity for your own path.

After a couple decades of writing books and articles about parenting, homeschooling and adoption, speaking to homeschoolers and other parent groups, and reaching out to the mom in the trenches who was trying to make the best of it - my kids grew up. Some grew up and grew away. I was determined to find a way out of the pain, emptiness and lack of direction.

For many of us, the journey starts with something we moms are not accustomed to. After years of caring for and serving others, sometimes we forget the beauty and wonder of US. We need to spend some time getting to know the parts of ourselves that have lain dormant, and take the time to explore interests and passions that we set aside.

I’d like to invite you to get the “What’s Next for Mom” workbook and jump into this growing tribe of Moms who are emptying the nest and filling the life! Let’s reignite your Mojo after Mothering!
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About Christine

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At Real Mom Life, my passion is to provide resources and reassurances for moms facing the surprising challenges of family life. In my writing and speaking, I explore solutions to unexpected issues in adoption, homeschooling, special needs, and more while encouraging moms to extract the maximum joy out of each day. Read More…

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