The top picture is the last picture in google image finder under the search "Christmas" The bottom picture is the first one to come up under the same search. I thought I'd mix the order up. Today, was Christmas eve. Successful and enjoyable. Except for a morning drive to the west side everything before 6 p.m. was quite uneventful. Once the clock ticked six o' one the party begun... began. The pirolo house was filled with family and a friend. Uncles, aunts, grandma, cousins, siblings, niece and nephew, derek. It's a Pirolo/campbell tradition to meet, eat, and open gifts, we were not about to let that die, so we didn't. It was a little loud and crazy, but I was able to hang with grandma and keep my cool. By the way, my grandma is great, love her. After the aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. left we had an immediate family opening of gifts. That was also good. Anthony and Mel made me a leather journal with a quote from spurgeon on the first page. What a way to start the journal off. I really don't know how to compete with that. The first page will be better than the rest. Anyway, my mom made me a shadow box, containing a pictures and military memorabilia that had belonged to my grandpa. I like it, thanks mom.
After all this and a little more, my dad and I went for a Christmas walk around the neighborhood and surrounding areas. This was definitely the best part of the holiday season so far, thanks dad.
So christmas is great, food is great, presents are great, but more than those things relationships are great. For most people this holiday is one of the only times that relationships with certain people are maintained, once a year you'll have great talks, and great fun with your family. It's a sad reality. It's not right. What's even worse however is that, for a lot of proclaimed Christians, Christmas is the once a year when they "maintain" a relationship with Jesus. It's the once a year that serious talks are had, prayers are made, the bible is opened. They live their lives as the cliche goes "Jesus is the reason for the season" I submit however that Jesus is the reason for life your living.
Back to my dad, He's done so much. He's helped me through 17 years of my life, whether it be providing a home, food, education, or love, he has gone above and beyond. If it were not for him I would not be here, for a couple reasons. My dad has to an extent sustained my living, he deserves a legitimate (more than once a year) relationship with me. Colossians 1:16 says that by him (Jesus) all things consist (or continue to exist). All things would include... me. My family has done a lot, a whole lot, but even more does the Lord Jesus deserve a legitimate (more than the holidays) relationship with those whom he holds together. These are some pretty elementary thoughts, but I thought them and decided to share. Merry Christmas.
