Christmas Through a PK's Eyes

The title of my recent blog, as you obviously see, is not quite an original title.  I closely follow the ministry work of Dr. David Jeremiah (a link to his website is below) and his current monthly devotional magazine is entitled Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child. So naturally I couldn't help but do a blog about Christmas time during my younger days as a pastor's kid.  Please indulge me.  

Let me take you back to the 70's.  Yes that's right.  The age of disco, bell bottoms and leisure suits.  I never wore that type of clothing nor was I allowed to engage in disco because it was, so I was informed, of the Devil.  I'm sure the Devil had more important things to worry about than my ability to enjoy disco.  To this day my Dad has no idea I thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever but I digress.  My father worked for Sears in downtown Los Angeles and was doing very well there so every Christmas our tree was literally filled with gifts for my siblings and me.  Each year we expected a bounty and Mom and Dad never disappointed. Check that, the fat man never disappointed.  I'm talking about Santa of course, not my Dad.  Santa, for me, didn't die until years later but that's another blog.  

Fast forward to 1978 when my Dad decided to leave the glamorous world of Sears and go into the ministry.  We moved to Oxnard late summer of that year and of course everything changed.  The high salary my Dad was making was no more. We were now relying solely on the giving of others.  What did Dad get us into? Tough times were ahead.  Or so we thought.  Christmas 1978, we had a tree and gifts were put under it.  The tree wasn't 8 feet tall anymore but we still had a tree and Santa still delivered just like he did in our house in La Puente.  At that age I really didn't fully comprehend how tough it was for our parents to still be able to provide us a tree and gifts to put under it but they did.  Of course I thought it was Santa but we all know better.  

So what's the lesson here?  The lesson I learned is this and we all know what it is.  Like the scripture says it is better to give than receive.  Even at that young age of 10 I realized Christmas wasn't about me.  Sure it was tough not to be envious of the other kids who received everything on their list but I still received something.  Our church family at the time was more than generous to us as well.  Our first few years there they collected cash for us to spend on ourselves.  We were never without and I am very grateful for that.

We all have Christmas stories.  Some good, some bad.  For many it will be a very difficult time of the year.  Sadly I have friends who have lost loved ones recently so no doubt Christmas will never be the same again.  My heart and prayers go out to all of you who are experiencing this.  

May God keep you and bless you all during this Christmas season.  I love and appreciate you all. Thanks for reading.  I hope you enjoyed it and come back often.  I plan to write more in the coming days ahead.  

Below is the link I promised you and check out the other blogs listed below.  My daughter Hailey has a blog and is a much better writer than me.  You'll laugh and cry at the same time. 

My fellow PK's Jessica Lair and Josiah Lair have just as much insight in being a PK as I do so give their blogs a look as well.  And finally, our friends daughter Hillary Hight has a very special page on Facebook talking about raising a child with Down Syndrome.  If you know someone who is looking for a support page on this topic click the link.  

Peace and blessings to you all and Merry Christmas.  

D.Z.

www.davidjeremiah.org

http://haileylooo.blogspot.com/

http://princessjessnicole.blogspot.com/

http://jdlair.blogspot.com/?m=1

https://www.facebook.com/hippohill/?fref=ts