Merry Christmas to
you all!
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…well, dream no more
because this came true and just in time!
My front yard is so pretty. Now driving in from Allen was not fun, but
provided a great time to pray!
We had a family
first today. Ken and Sheena provided the
ham and appetizers. Our family provided
the side dishes. Sheena and I were
sitting at the same table and we both figured out at the same moment that no
one brought dessert. So, Ken got out the
slice and bake chocolate chip cookies and baked fresh cookies for dessert. So from now on this one will be remembered as
the “slice and bake Christmas.” No one
seemed to mind and a great time was had by all.
“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the
Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Luke 1: 46
I must admit I had
some trouble wrapping myself around Christmas this year. We have experienced such intimate loss this
past year. Each time I would wrap a gift
I would remember the gifts I would not wrap.
I did not make the usual phone call to Sheena and ask, “What are getting
for Mom this year for Christmas?” Last
year, both families went together and got Mom a Brighton bracelet with a charm
for each grandchild, a special one for Holly, the great-grandchild and bookend
charms representing Ken and me. She received it Christmas morning in the
hospital and never got to wear it.
Sheena and I divided the charms between ourselves each taking the
members of our own family and made two bracelets. I wore mine today.
With the business of
school, writing papers, exams, internship responsibilities and preparing for
Christmas at our house and at Ken and Sheena’s, shopping and wrapping coupled with
the emotional toll of the loss of so many family members this year, I found it
really difficult to get into the spirit of Christmas joy I usually experience. And then I read a Christmas devotional
tonight that simply stated the words of Mary, “My spirit rejoices in God my
Savior.” The light-bulb went on and I
remembered the young woman who carried and birthed the Son of God. Here she was so very young, not betrothed, carrying
a baby, facing public criticism, facing family shame, facing the potential loss
of trust in her husband-to-be and possibly her husband. Through all of this she
did not complain. She was willing to serve God in this most intimate, life
changing and world altering event. She
prayed and gave thanks saying, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Perhaps we should
take a lesson from Mary and remember that God sent our Savior through this
young woman of faith to a manger in Bethlehem.
Jesus is the incarnate One given to us through scripture and will return
to us at the appointed time to set all things right. Let us remember to praise Jesus on Christmas
day and the day after that, and the day after that...
Take joy as we
journey through the twelve days of Christmas.
Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep. Count your blessings, throw an extra blanket
on the bed tonight and get some sleep.
Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.
Gcapplenotes@aol.com
I am not moved by what
I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am only moved by what I believe and I
believe God.
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