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"What do you want for Christmas?"

Probably the single most asked question this time of year. Children make their list and write it out and send it to Santa. There's a lot of focus on asking and gift giving and receiving.

I was reminded recently that in the midst of all of the wish lists and moving from present to present and party to party hoping for "what we want" that sometimes thank-you's can be missed. We're Canadian so I know we'll say thank you, but too often I find myself expressing it out of politeness rather than heartfelt, thoughtful gratitude. It's not intentional. It just happens because there are so many things going on.

I would like to invite each of us - starting with myself - to pause long enough to be truly thankful this Christmas. Thankful for the gifts we receive, sure. But also thankful for the people we get to spend our celebrations with. Thankful for the good memories we have of those no longer with us in person. Thankful for the people in the service industry putting up with frantic customers trying to find the "perfect" last minute gift. Thankful for the men and women who clear our roads and make it safer to travel. Thankful for first responders who are at work through much of the holidays. Thankful for the teachers who are wrangling our super-excited kids through school plays and parties. Thankful for the caregivers in hospitals and homes whose shifts don't end on Christmas Eve.

There are so many people to be thankful for. Take some time - maybe a little bit of time each day this season - to consciously think of and express thanks. The entire "reason for the season" is to celebrate and give thanks that God broke into the world to show love. Let's allow that starting place to overflow to those around us.

On that note . . . I have an expression of thanks to offer here. I want to again thank our Covenant Kids and all their leaders for the amazing job they did on Sunday morning in presenting Just a Little Christmas. Every one of the children did amazing. Thanks to the children who rehearsed faithfully, but couldn't be here on Sunday, for what you contributed to the preparation. Thanks to the youth who helped with narrating and stage directing and A/V and holding lyrics and playing the piano. Thanks to the adults who helped with costumes and stage direction and music and decorating. You all did amazing. I might pay for this later . . . but a super special thank-you to Angie for all her work in leading this and pulling this together! Thank you all for helping us to reflect again on the story of Christmas!