Honoring Eli at Christmas

Christmas time is an especially stressful time of year.  It is a wonderful, sparkly and magical season with beautiful, frosty winter mornings.

It can be a time to reflect on God's goodness and each gift he has bestowed on us. Christmas can be an exciting time. It can also be a very sad time for those of us who are celebrating the season as we are missing a beloved child. 

Instead of dwelling on my sadness, I have been trying to think of ways that I can honor Eli's memory.  Here are 5 ways I am planning to honor my son at Christmas time. 

1. Thanking God for Eli each and every day. Some people may find it strange to thank God for a child who has passed away.  I believe that God gave us Eli for a reason. I do not know the reason why Eli had to die, but I do know that he is loved each and every moment of the day. 

2. We have a few Christmas ornaments that were bought or given to us specifically in Eli's memory. We will hang them on our Christmas tree with joy. 

3. Hanging a stocking for Eli. He will never spend another Christmas with us on this earth but when I look at his stocking, I want to remember that he is celebrating his first Christmas in heaven. 

4.  Visiting his headstone; even in the cold of winter, it gives me comfort.

5. I will treat others with love, respect, and kindness.I will pray that God gives me a servant's heart. This is how we would have taught Eli to live, and I know without a doubt that he would have followed in our footsteps.

Here are a couple of ornaments that my sister bought for us in Eli's memory. We were planning to decorate his nursery with owls, and whenever I see an owl my mind goes straight to our precious son.