Some folks leave their decorations up until New Year. Others leave them up until July. Still others never take them down. Not us. We gave them another five days; now they're gone. If you turn the M upside-down, ChristMas becomes ChristWas. As in Christ WAS born in Bethlehem. Jesus's birthday party is over, and everyone has gone home. Now people can stay away from church until Easter. Here's hoping that a growing number of Christmas observers will come to realize that the emphasis is less on who Christ WAS, but who Christ IS. He truly is life-changing.
SIR GIBBIE
Lois and I continue to re-read the works of George MacDonald. She is currently re-reading Sir Gibbie, written in 1879. Neither of us can read through a story without prompting some discussion between us on spiritual truths that we find. This story is about a mute orphan who is the closest resemblance to an earthly angel that anyone could hope for. He is the living persona of I Corinthians 13:4-7. He is eager to do what is put before him, going about his business cheerfully. Even when it was found out later that he was a laird (lord) by birth, it never detracted from his generous spirit. Lois and I compare ourselves to him, often finding that we come up way short. We are too quick to judge and rationalize. Hopefully, that is changing, be it ever so gradually.
PIZZA AND POCKY
Usually once a week our daughter brings her three boys over for a visit; our oldest grandson also joins us. The boys get along wonderfully. They hang out together for a while, then I go get pizza. When I got back with the pizza I asked one of the boys if he brought some pocky for dessert. I first learned of pocky over Thanksgiving when their father and they were trading quips about pocky, like, "My pocky can beat your pocky," or "Let's pocky off to the store." So on Christmas day one boy got some pocky in his stocking. Turns out it's a Japanese biscuit stick coated in chocolate, actually quite good. Normally after pizza we will play some kind of game. But since two of the younger boys got Nintendos for Christmas (their middle brother got one for his birthday), today was different. I can find a book to read or visit with my daughter, and the oldest grandson interacts with each of them, while working his ipod. One of the boys asked me to take the Brain Age challenge. It's a series of problems to solve, the results of which tell the estimated age of your brain. I'm sad to report that I have the brain of a 75-year old --- I'm 63 :(
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Lord, I pray that we can take the concepts of joy and giving from Christmas and make them a permanent part of our lives. I also pray that we might have the innocence of Sir Gibbie, always ready to do good. /// Thank you, Father, that our family from here to Nashville can come into our home and truly feel at home. May they always be aware that we love them dearly.
Amen
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