Over the course of the past twenty years, I have sent out a yearly Christmas letter to our family and friends.
On the surface, it's an account of what our family has been up to over the course if that year.
But the truth is, it's really a type of brag. Look at the cool job my husband has, look at the awesome things my children have accomplished, look at how well I juggle my busy life.
2012 has left me a little bitter and without desire to send out a family letter. I have nothing to brag about and I don't care to hear anyone else's bragging, either.
Other people's letters kind of feel that they are rubbing it in....that their life is better than mine.
So, this year will forever been known as our Country Song Year.
You know about country songs...the ones where the singer loses everything?
Yeah, that was a lot of our year.
So here is our Antithesis of a Christmas Letter.
In early April, Scott lost his job. Actually, we know where it is, but he was let go. And he was no longer allowed to tutor.
Two days after that, one of our cats died.
Scott found another job in late May, but it wasn't teaching and it was for significantly less pay.
Because it was a huge cut in pay, we found that we needed to do some financial restructuring and one of those things included short selling our home and moving into a different ward and stake.
As if that wasn't enough, my last living grandparent passed away unexpectedly just a few weeks ago.
Life has just been one hit after another for us this year.
It's kind of really sucked.
However, I don't want you to think that doom and gloom are the prevalent philosophy in our lives.
But I'm not going to brag about the small stuff, the things that in the eternal scheme of things...just don't matter.
I will tell you that now our family is closer, we communicate better, and we know what is truly important.
The relationships we have with each other, and with our Heavenly Father are the things that have been strengthened.
The jobs, the house, the accolades, the THINGS...not vital.
So here's the takeaway:
(1) Life really sucks sometimes,
(2) But God still cares for His children,
(3) And family is what it is all about.
This is what I know.
And I don't think I'm going to send out any more Christmas letters.
Bragging just isn't cool. Or necessary.
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