Christmas "Firsts"

The week between Christmas and New Year's is my favorite time of the season. With the excitement and joys of the preparation for and celebration of our Savior's birth behind me, I find the time I should have taken during Advent to reflect upon the meaning of that first Christmas when God's grace entered the world in the form of a helpless baby. No matter how many times I hear the story, each year I relish it with fresh perspective and wonder as if I am hearing it anew. In pondering the miracle of that first Christmas, it dawned on me that ours had been a Christmas of "firsts" where tradition and expectations took some surprising twists . . .

First first: Danny announced his official retirement from the annual chore of assembling our Christmas tree. Giovanni accepted the challenge to set up the tree and he and I did most of the decorating of it and the living room. Thanks, kiddo; that was quite a job!

Second first: We celebrated Danny's and my Dad's birthdays together on the Saturday before Christmas (Danny's is on the 19th and Dad's is on Christmas Day). We had always held the party closer to Christmas in previous years, but choosing an earlier date proved to be much less stressful and a festive time was had by all.

Third first: Nicco showed absolutely no interest in the Advent calendar this year. I can recall when the boys would scrap and quarrel over whose turn it was to place the ornament on the tree!

Fourth first: I'm ashamed to admit it, but I hadn't made Christmas cookies or treats from scratch since Danny and I were married. This year, I chose not only to go the homemade route, but also to try two recipes I never have before: Grandmama Rose's decadent cream cheese sugar cookies and to-die-for cheese straws. Both demand an encore next year!

Fifth first: I have always wanted a Charlie Brown tree at Christmas, but never had one. Imagine my delight, then, when a friend surprised Danny and me with one as a Christmas gift! Such a lovely and unexpected present . . .

Sixth first: Snow on Christmas Day!!! This hasn't happened in Georgia with any accumulation since 1882. At long last, I can cease dreaming of a white Christmas because I've lived it!

Seventh first: This was my granddaughter, Virginia Rose's, first Christmas. I was certain she would find the lights on the tree and the sparkling ornaments entrancing, but there was absolutely, positively nothing that could have prepared me for this "first". As she sat with her mom and dad, I settled on the floor in front of her and presented her stocking. This was the look on her face!

Every object pulled from her stocking made her eyes light up and she reached eagerly for each one. Of course, her tiny hands guided each treasure to her mouth. As Nicco aptly noted, "Christmas for her is just one all-you-can-eat buffet."

These were our "firsts" this Christmas. If you and your family enjoyed some firsts, or simply have something about your Christmas to share, please leave a comment on the blog. I can't wait to read about what made this holiday special for you this year.

May your new year be filled with love, laughter, blessings, and "firsts"!

Firm in the Faith

Ephesians 6:14-16 (NIV) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

When I read this passage, I envision a Roman soldier, equipped for battle, standing firm and steadfast among the rank and file. The early Christians, living under Roman rule, were all too familiar with the image Paul evokes here, yet brilliantly alters to reflect what it means to "put on the full armor of God" (Ephesians 6:11). He is keenly aware that the enemy, Satan, is alive and well and eager to claim the souls of Christ's followers. There is a battle at hand, there is a war brewing, and Paul exhorts the Ephesians to be prepared in truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, and faith for the times that will try their souls and try to take them from the Lord.

One constant I have noticed as I strive to walk with Jesus is that every affliction or adversity encountered eventually leads me to a deeper, more profound spiritual revelation. While I trudge through the valley of the shadows, though, this is difficult if not impossible to remember as I wallow selfishly in my troubles, turning them over to God only to snatch them back like a spoiled toddler. It is in the midst of those moments when I most need to stop and take an inventory of my armor. Has the belt of truth been buckled? Is my breastplate tarnished with self-righteousness? Am I sharing the gospel of peace with others through prayer and witness? Is my shield of faith drooping woefully at my side? When Satan bids me dwell on my trials instead of counting my blessings, it's time to acknowledge the chinks and flaws I've allowed to blemish my armor and pray that God will mend it like new.

So, let me ask you - what does your armor look like today? Does your belt buckle need a bit of spit and polish? Is your breastplate shining and squarely in place? Are your feet ready to go and spread the good news? Is your shield held high and triumphant? If not, take the time to reflect and to pray that the Lord will heal any hurts you now suffer and surround you once more in His protective and loving armor and arms.

The Strong Hands of the Father

John 3:35 - The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

Our hands are such an integral and accustomed adjunct to our bodies that, unless they ache with overuse or arthritis, suffer dried, cracked skin, or require washing after enduring labor in the garage or garden or home, we scarcely notice them. We take for granted that in typing an e-mail, dusting the furniture, grasping the leash of our head-strong dog, or wiping away the tear of a child, our hands will perform for us without question. They are servants, obedient and unflinchingly pliant to the commands of our brains; it is often too easy to neglect their importance and functionality, to be grateful, through them, for the inimitable gift of touch.

When Danny and I first met in person after courting on E-Harmony for almost two months, my most vivid recollection of our date at Chili's was the feel of his hands when he reached for and held mine and, gazing into my eyes, said he wanted to see me again. I immediately registered the simultaneous strength and gentleness in his grasp and returned, what I hoped then, was the same. Our hands did more to communicate a mutual trust and optimism for what may lie in store for the two of us than anything else we said or did that day and, to this day, I still covet slipping my hand into his, feeling his warm, strong and comforting clasp that says, "I love you" without a word spoken.

Last Sunday, I witnessed Danny's hands put to a new and different task: that of holding Virginia Rose, my granddaughter, and his adopted. He held her on his lap on our deck and gently tickled her abdomen; she promptly launched into gales of laughter and this Gammie snapped some priceless shots, one of which I've posted here. Her merriment was so contagious that we couldn't help but laugh with her and that made her chortle all the more. The same hands that could wheedle the laughter from this baby, I realized, were the same ones holding her firmly and securely, with loving kindness and genuine affection. How can we ever underestimate the power and potential of our hands?

The Lord, our Lord, has the wold world in His hands. Let him cradle you in His, let Him tickle you, let Him hold you close and wipe away your every tear. Use your hands for Him in this life, and may He grant you the strength and courage to do so at every turn. In the name of the Lord, a simple touch can become a miracle.

Wait Upon the Lord

Psalm 130:6 - My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, yes, more than those who watch for the morning.


Waiting is difficult for most of us and, most of the time, we do so grudgingly. We wait at the grocery store, irritated that the person ahead of us picked up an item requiring a price check. We wait in snarls of rush hour traffic, frantic that we will be late for work or furious because we are so late getting home. We wait with pregnant anticipation for mountain getaway without technological frills to distract us and, by the end of the vacation, can't wait to pounce on our computers. In a society grown accustomed to instant gratification, neither waiting nor patience are desired virtues.

In my life, I am waiting to hear positive news about two things that I know in my heart of hearts God has led me to pursue. There are days when I wallow in my own dark doubts and insecurities: "Lord, was it really you pushing me toward these goals? Was it not your voice I heard? Yes? Then, why must I wait so long for something wonderful to come of this?" And then, there are days when I take joy in the watch, certain that all is God's time and hands and knowing He will bring the good work He began in me to fruition.

The darkest hour is just before dawn claims the old adage. Like the verse from Psalms quoted above, it reflects the void in our souls when we cannot feel God's presence in our lives yet, paradoxically, offers us the assurance that He, the light of the world, will shine on us once again if we, with the psalmist, will wait with patience and hope.

Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Psalm 37:7 - Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Never before has there been and, I pray, never again will be a time in this country's history when elected officials have so brazenly ignored the will of the people and our rights under the Constitution. The politicians have wrecked havoc with our deficit, have passed the health care bill that, according to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, "must be passed before we can see what's in (it)" (WHAT???), and have handed our children and grand-children a debt that is nigh impossible to pay. What we have endured with losses of homes, jobs, and economic opportunities have been due in large part to those in office who regard power, not legitimate legacy, as their utmost goal and driving force. The continued failures in the private sector hail more dependence on the federal government which is funded, in large part, by the high-achievers through taxes. Those on the government dole either can't or don't understand that the higher taxes go, these high-achieving creators of jobs will simply take their businesses to other countries more friendly to their agenda. When this happens, what happens to the poor, the middle class, in this country? What happens to the country as a whole? Politicians, up to this point, have certainly succeeding in their wicked ways and, worshiping the idols of power and control, have neglected the economic and moral health of our nation.

While we can blame the politicians all we want, the responsibility for our country's destiny lies ultimately in our hands; we, the people, must repent and return to the roots our founding fathers who so meticulously, with copious thought to the needs of future generations, gave to us our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. For whom did we vote in the past and for whom are we voting now? Who are we re-electing that just might not deserve another term because he/she has not been a good and faithful servant? Have we researched the candidates carefully before entering the polling booth? Are we more interested in "Dancing With the Stars" than knowing who is waltzing with our hard-earned dough in Washington? What are we going to do about it? Are we going to take a stand or will we simply stand by and sit this one out because "my vote really doesn't count"? It counts beyond measure because you are an American; if you think it doesn't, you are listening to the words of the enemy.

With this being said, before you take the first step or make one more decision, be still with the Lord, our God, and seek His council. If God is first and foremost in your life, then, evidently, the government must, of necessity, take a backseat. Jesus admonished us to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. As a child of God, you are not a puppet of a government that has strayed from the principles of its Constitution and its Judeo-Christian heritage. You have a voice. You are "We, the People". Listen to the voice of the Lord and let your voice be heard.

En-deer-ing

Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and meet my God?

Our house is surrounded by a forest, so it is not unusual to observe the occasional deer traipsing through our yard. I particularly treasured a moment this summer when a doe led her frisky fawn up the trail in front of our house. I took great care to stand very still as they passed by, not wishing to startle them into flight that would prematurely curtail my enjoyment of this scene. After all, since I didn't have my camera handy, I had to rely solely on my mind's eye to capture the moment. Fortunately, that wasn't the case this past Saturday.

Danny and I were watching college football that afternoon when a doe ambled into view. We watched quietly from our living room window as she proceeded to nonchalantly lick birdseed from the ground; I never knew deer liked birdseed. We chuckled as she, more than once, arched her neck toward the feeder and thrust her tongue in the aperture to procure more food. After several minutes of this, she calmly turned away and strolled leisurely toward a copious patch of English ivy where she promptly laid down to rest. Dissatisfied with the quality of the photos he had snapped through the window, Danny decided to risk a venture outside to see if he could manage some better shots. Moving slowly and deliberately so as not to alarm the doe, he crept as close as he dared and, this time, nailed some phenomenal photos. The one at the top of this blog is one of the best!

Danny was amazed at the doe's indifference toward his presence. Although not tame by any means, it was obvious to us that this deer was accustomed to humans, roaming the wooded neighborhoods as she did. She had never experienced a reason to be wary, cautious, or fearful of people. Luckily for her, the only shots she would ever encounter would be fired from a camera.

After resting for about an hour, the doe rose on her slender, elegant legs and sauntered down the forest slope toward the creek which runs through our neighborhood. The presence of this reliable water source sustains mammals and birds in abundance. Without it, they would be forced to live elsewhere and we would be deprived of the marvelous creatures that attest to the beauty and wonder of God's creation. He is present in it all and we can meet Him there any time we choose.

Matthew 19:14 - Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

I had the delightful task this week of babysitting for my granddaughter, Virginia Rose. Her parents, John and Sarah, were gone for over four hours, so "Gammie" had quite a stretch of time to get better acquainted with her darling almost-three-month-old. Naturally, I doted on her every smile, her laughs and coos, and marveled as I watched her roll from her back to her stomach repeatedly, becoming frustrated only when she momentarily forgot how to extricate her arm from beneath her (I had to intervene a time or two). She has also learned to grab a particular ring on her play gym because it rewards her efforts with a variety of perky tunes. Music, most definitely, has a calming effect on her!

Not everything, however, was sweetness and light that afternoon. Virginia fights sleep with a ferocity that manifests itself in boisterous cries. The only way I found to soothe her was to walk the floor with her in my arms. She quieted especially promptly when I carried her outdoors where the trees, sky and wind held a particular fascination for her. As much as I coveted holding her, it wasn't long before my arms began to protest at the unaccustomed weight, and I was ever so relieved when her blue-like-Gammie's eyes closed at last and I could ease her into the seat of her swing for her much-needed nap.

By the time her parents arrived home, I felt like I was the one who needed a nap! I thought about other grandparents my age and older who, for whatever circumstance, are raising their children's children, and my heart ached for them. For even the most energetic of us, bringing up a second family, while being the right thing to do, would never be the easiest. The infant, toddler, child, teen are all, at their different stages, dependent upon the adults in the lives to nurture them, love them, and meet their needs. Observing Sarah and John with Virginia, I know she is one blessed little girl!

I, too, am blessed, and so are you. We have a Father in Heaven who loves us, cares for us, comforts us and, thank goodness, is never too tired or distracted when we need Him to hold us, speak to us, or walk with us. Come, then, before Him as a little child, wholly and completely dependent upon Him, leaning not on your own understanding but trusting in His. Therein is the Kingdom of Heaven.