Auntie Mame Was Right!
Humming a favorite show tune I finished decorating the homestead for the holidays, and put away 97.8% of the boxes. (It wouldn’t be me if some clutter didn’t remain.)
I Need A Little Christmas
Maybe I rushed to get the decorations up this year, because the reason for the season, the birth of the Lord Jesus, grows more precious, more needed in these uncertain times.
More light than we can learn,
More wealth than we can treasure,
More love than we can earn,
More peace than we can measure,
Because one Child is born.*
It’s Dark Out There!
As North Korea launches more missiles; as accusations and confessions of sexual predators abound, and as leaders stumble, the news ain’t good. As friends grieve losses of their children, and fight daunting battles for their health and well-being, I have nothing to offer for any relief.
My only hope is that God does, and that He is not limited in a manger, in some stable, 2,000+ years ago.
Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world. C.S. Lewis: The Last Battle (1956)
Nativity scenes abound among our decorations. They live amongst Santa’s, snowmen, miniature toys, angels, bears, Christmas trees, and one piece of our last live Christmas tree – that would have been early in the new millennium!
Antique Evergreen
Our decorations are a mixture of what I enjoy, and what I believe. What I believe, hope, and trust isn’t exactly enjoyable in the way we hope to enjoy the holidays.
Looking for Some Light
Scriptures tell me God sent His son to be born of a virgin; to be the offering for sin I could never present. The baby grew up – He was crucified. But, death could not hold Him. And that’s my hope in an autumn’s garden. Because He was born, once, in David’s royal city, death won’t hold me when we meet.
This is the irrational season
When love blooms bright and wild.
Had Mary been filled with reason
There’d have been no room for the child.
~Madeleine L’Engle, in The Weather of the Heart. (1978)*
It may be harder and harder in the Holidays to discern the Christmas story. Looking around the familiar decorations in our home, I am not sure how well I am communicating what I believe. However, they tell me of memories; memories that remind me God has been good and faithful to me – because He is good and faithful. So, I pray that His faithfulness and love will be what you receive this season dear friend.
Look for Christ and you will find Him. And with Him, everything else.
C.S. Lewis ~ Mere Christianity (1952)
* christiansquoting.org.uk – Christmas
We Need A Little Christmas