This was grocery store shopping for Christmas dinner. There will be eight family members around our table on Saturday. Of that group five are vegetarians, two are omnivores and one is a vegan. Try coming up with a menu for that combination! We have three omnivores locally, but our oldest grandson has to skip our meal and join his other grandparents for Christmas dinner. Even though the challenge comes up each holiday, Lois and the girls meet and surpass it with several tasty dishes. I can't say firsthand, but I'll take their word for it :)
FINAL SHOPPING --- WITH A TWIST
I believe this is our second go 'round at what is shaping up to be an annual event. Lois and I gather up the local grandsons, give them a few bucks and take them shopping for gifts for their parents. What a thrill! We enjoy so much being with them, watching them carefully select just the right present, then grabbing a bite to eat. And they all, without prompting, thanked us for taking them.
The traffic was busy, and the stores were crowded, but our little charges remained patient. I can think of no other holiday that clogs up the highways and byways so. There must be something to this Christmas celebration each year. Maybe Jesus is pleased that we are exchanging gifts in honor of him --- at least for those of us who do it for that reason :(
A CHRISTMAS CARD --- WITH PREACHING
We got a very nice card from Lois's sister and her husband. The card was homemade, nicely done, with the message of God's love to us by sending his Son. Enclosed was a handwritten, 2-page letter from Lois's sister, listing supporting verses that implied that Jesus came to die for our sins. She closed the letter with the promise that she was praying God would shine a light in our darkened hearts. What a nice Christmas wish! We left fundamentalist Christianity; we're not spiritually dead! You'll have to read previous articles to find out what we now believe, but I can assure you it includes God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. If we supposedly have darkened hearts, why are we experiencing so much peace, freedom and love?
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Father, I don't know if you want us all to be vegetarians, but thank you for the graciousness that is shared around our table by such diverse eaters. And what wonderful grandsons you have given us! I thank you for keeping us safe today with our precious cargo. Lord, I pray that Lois's sister would come to realize that she need not fear our destiny. If we don't get anything else right, we would want her to know that we love You dearly and trust You daily for each step we take. I look forward with joy to that day when we will be reconciled with her.
Amen
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