A
Step in the Write Direction
December
28, 2015
Update:
I sort of dreaded December 25 this year, my first Christmas without my husband.
I thought it would be hard for me, as well as the rest of the family. But it was
a good day. It was especially good to have our daughter and family back “home”
from Texas. The only tears came from her as she was mashing the potatoes as
“that was Dad’s job.” We opened presents, shared some humorous memories, and had
a good meal together. Later that evening we watched “War Room.” So we survived!
I knew a lot of friends were praying, so that really helped. Don’t ever think
that your prayers are prayed in vain. They’re not!...We are really enjoying our
new pastor at church. He has a real heart for winning souls, and we’re all
looking forward to good days ahead.
Thought
for the Day:
(some thoughts from this morning’s
sermon, Pastor David Caudle)
·
Am
I am better shape with God than I was a week ago, a month ago, or a year
ago?
·
Jesus
knew who He was and what He had to do. He knew what God’s mission was for
Him.
·
God
is love, and love listens. Sometimes we’re so eager to speak when God wants us
to listen.
·
God’s
healing goes as deep as our wounds.
Song
for the Day:
We
rejoice in the light, And we echo the song
That
comes down thro’ the night From the heavenly throng.
Ay!
we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,
And
we greet in His cradle our Saviour and King!
“There’s a Song in the Air,” Josiah
G. Holland
Laugh
for the Day:
It was Christmas
day, and we had all gathered for the holiday meal at the home of my husband's
parents. After dessert, my mother-in-law left the table and returned carrying a
bowl filled with slips of paper. Each adult was instructed to take one. Excited,
we did so, wondering what surprise she had thought up for us. My slip of paper
instructed me to dry the dishes; another person was told to wash them. Others
had to do pots and pans. Then, with all the parents out of the way, grandma and
grandpa went into the living room and enjoyed their grandchildren (Sheila Heil,
The Gospel Greats newsletter,
December 22, 2015).
Writer’s
Tips:
(OK, one more Advent devotion)
The Year Christmas Was Late
(8 years
ago)
Peace I
leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27) .
December 25—Christmas—and our family gathered around
my husband’s bedside in ICU. I set up a tiny tree and a miniature Nativity set,
and our daughter hung tinsel and a red bow
around the mirror. We opened one gift apiece, not
wanting to tire him out.
On December 27 Gary had surgery. The doctors told us
he was “very high risk” and “might not pull through.” Several days later my
husband of forty-seven years looked up at me
and said, "I think it’s time.”
“What do you mean?” I asked him, fear gnawing at my
stomach.
“Don’t you know what I’m trying to say?”
“I do, but I don’t want to.” I leaned over and hugged
him, tears running down my face.
“I’m sorry,” he replied.“I love you more than life
itself, but I’m just too tired. It’s time for me to go.”
But it wasn’t God’s time! Ten days later, on January
7, we brought my husband home, and the next day the family gathered again to
celebrate Christmas a second time and open the rest of the gifts. This proved to
us once again that it’s not the date, but the spirit of joy and peace that the
holiday represents.
In his 1927 Christmas message to the nation,
President Calvin Coolidge wrote:
Christmas is not a time or a season, but a state of
mind. To cherish peace and
good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the
real spirit of Christmas. If
we think on these things, there will be born in us a
Savior and over us will
shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world.
Thank
You, Lord, for that spirit of hope I have today because of the birth of Your
Son, Jesus.
May God bless you in 2016 as you spread
the
gospel through the printed page.
