Writing Update December 2022

Christmas is only a day away. Ready or not, the presents should be wrapped, the seventh trip to the grocery store completed, and the house cleaned (mostly). Snow for Christmas? Well, for many of us, that’s an understatement.

Hopefully the stress of the season doesn’t get you too down. With all of the effort to make the season perfect, we can often overlook the need to pause and reflect on what truly matters. We’ve all heard it before, that Christmas should be a time for rest, quality time with family, and a reflection of what the Creator God did for his people. 

Are you taking time to do that? I know I need to be reminded yearly. It’s too easy for me to get caught up in how retailers and cultural influencers want us to define Christmas, that so often before I know it, the season has passed me by. Afterward, I find myself cramming the fridge with unhealthy leftovers, hauling a mountain of trash out to the road, and gawking over how much we’ve spent on presents we didn’t need to buy. 

On the other hand, I know too many others who have no one to share Christmas with, or perhaps aren’t able to buy food or presents to make the day really special. For them, a visit, phone call, or a bit of help financially could mean the difference in someone’s life.

It doesn’t change the fact that our focus should be on the birth of Christ. No matter our circumstances, Christmas is special regardless of presents, or food, or even fellowship with family. Jesus, the son of the almighty God, left heaven to be with His people. That, is enough for us to celebrate.

I don’t want to sound preachy. I’ve never been very good at that. These reminders are mostly for me, anyway. And the food, presents, and a bit of chaos isn’t so bad, as long as we are taking a few moments to spend time with our heavenly father, thanking Him for his gift. 

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas, and an awesome new year. I will be spending some time finishing up Book #2 of Demon Tide, and huddling up with a blanket on the couch. Today, the high is -5 degrees, with -30 degree windchills. I’m sure many of you are in the same boat!

Last but not least, meet Snickers the cat. She is a needy, low-energy brat with a picky taste in food. She’s really pretty, though! (I swear when she croaks I’ll be making a pair of mittens with that fur:)

That is all for now. I’m signing off.

Troy