The Writing and Photography Blog of Kevin J Sabo

Today was a Red Deer trip for Lynn and I, as she had an MRI booked for this morning.

We were able to get away at a relatively decent 9 a.m, so it wasn’t that early of a morning, but it still makes for a long day. Driving with the sore arm doesn’t help any either, but it is what it is.

With how sore I am after today’s running around, it has definitely made me restructure my plans for the week. I’m calling my psychologist tomorrow morning to see about changing my in office session to a skype session on Thursday to avoid driving back in. The added bonus will be it will give me more time to catch up on work items, and start the long, slow, process of getting the house cleaned and decorated before Lynn’s mom and sister make it out here on boxing day.

With Lynn still getting back on her feet(literally) after breaking her tibia, and with my wounded wing, it is definitely a challenge getting back on top of things. Oh well, we’ll make it work, or we won’t. This time of year is about family and fellowship, not how spotless your home is or about outdoing each other with gifts.

I am not against gift giving, nor am I against having a clean home.

I am all for continuing the tradition of gift giving, in the amount that you can afford. I am all for keeping the house in a liveable condition. I am no longer feeling guilty if it can’t get done though.

The thing is, life happens. Life is messy. Life gets busy. Injuries and illness happen.

The real gift of the Christmas season is being able to spend time with the family and friends that God has given, and to reflect on the birth of His Son in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. The Son who died on the cross to forgive us our sins and save us from ourselves.

I believe in God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I believe, because with what I have experienced in my life, it’s depressing to think otherwise. Believing in something greater than myself makes the senseless death I have seen more palatable. For me, faith has turned into a big part of my mental health recovery.

I have questioned God. I have asked Him why people have had to die. I have asked him why I have had the struggles with my mental health that I have had. I’ve even asked Him my purpose, and to take me, when I have felt unable to continue. As much as I have struggled with my faith, and my mental health, the light of God has always been there. He didn’t take me when I asked Him to because I am not done yet on this earth. I know now that there is more in me to give.

I don’t write a lot about my faith in these blogs, because my beliefs are mine. I will happily discuss faith with others if asked about it. I won’t deny my beliefs either, but I firmly believe that people need to find the beliefs themselves, and that nothing I say on the subject can change someone’s mind about their faith, unless they are ready to hear it.

Agree, or disagree, it doesn’t matter to me. God works in all of us differently, and I don’t care by what name you call your God, at least you have faith. God works through me in my skills as a watcher, and a reporter.

My faith in God is where the true heart of this Christmas holiday belongs. It’s not about how clean your house is, or about going into to debt to impress people, it’s about celebrating a faith that has stood 2000 years, celebrating a baby that grew to be someone who died for all of us, and knowing that there is more to this life than things bought from a store.

I wish all my readers a Merry Christmas season, and whatever faith you celebrate, I wish safety on your travels, and a time of fellowship and happiness with your family and friends.

Kevin