When comparing our childhood lists to our adult Christmas lists, we can't help but notice the stark contrast. We have told our friends on more than one occasion that making Christmas lists as an adult is "so much harder" because we can't just "watch commercials and see a toy we want."

Whenever we can't figure out what to put on our Christmas list, we always tell people it's because "we don't want anything." However, I don't think that's the issue. I don't think our Christmas lists shrink because we don't "want" anything. I think they shrink because we realize that the things we want are things that we can't buy ourselves in a store or we think of stuff we need instead of what we want.

As we age our Christmas lists change from Legos, barbies, stuffed animals, and light up shoes to things that aren't quite as material or things that could actually be useful. We tend to make our Christmas list change to stuff we need, intimacy, courage, and a sense of peace. It's in our adulthood that we realize the things we really want are not things we can buy.

But throughout these thoughts, I have come to one conclusion. Maybe Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year because it's one of the only times when we feel like everything will work out. We feel a sense of peace, the love of our family, and the magic of the holidays. Santa may not be able to bring us courage. But then again, he really doesn't need to.

We have family, friends, and God. So even if you don't get everything on your Christmas list this year, one thing is for certain. You will be okay. Everything will work out in the end. Whether it works out the way we imagine or not. We will always be exactly where we are meant to be. Even if where we are meant to be, it doesn't always feel like it's where we should be. So stop worrying about the future and enjoy this holiday season.

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year.