Four of my great-grandchildren (and they are great) performed a Christmas program for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and me on my porch Christmas Eve. Invitations decorated with snowmen were given out with time, place and date. Fold-up chairs were placed on the lawn for us to sit. Nine-year-old Sadie along with 8-year-old cousin Ella worked out the words, music and choreography. A surprise to all was how the girls somehow got their little brothers, 7-year-old Eli and 6-year-old Wyatt, to agree to be in the program too. The younger generations give me hope. Yes, they are cute and fun and precious but they are also significant to our future. Notice them, encourage them, pray for them! Jesus upheld little children as fit for his kingdom.

Christians are exhorted to rejoice in the Lord, to sing for the joy within us. Hearing the beautiful Christmas music on classical radio the last few weeks has added joy to my life. Our community choir was shut down because of the pandemic, so we couldn’t perform our usual Christian concert. But hearing the lyrics without having to worry about timing, pitch and harmonization allowed me to really think about what the words meant. Our director frequently reminded us to think about the meaning of what we were singing, but that’s not easy when you’re trying to remember so much else while performing in front of an audience. So, I’m passing his advice on. The next time you hear or sing a familiar hymn, think about what the words mean. It will bring you joy!

Have you fallen short this week? That character flaw you thought was overcome pops its ugly head up again. Maybe what you did even shocked and surprised you. You thought it was not a part of your nature anymore. I’ve been there. We may be shocked and surprised by what we did, but God wasn’t. He knows our ilk, our fallen nature to the core. That’s why Jesus had to become fully human and overcome the ugly nature of sin in his own body. And, even now, when we lose our battles with sin, he is still there as our high priest, covering our sins with the shed blood of his holy sacrifice. May the joys of this season remind us of the marvelous Gift we have been given. Merry Christmas!

Peace was the Advent theme last week. Our pastor’s sermon was titled “People in Pieces Can’t Be People of Peace.” I’ve had to ask myself, does that describe me? I have to admit, many times it does! I get stressed out over the sorry state of the world. Division bothers me, whether in relationships, religion or politics. And, there’s the pandemic, which ebbs and flows on the CDC charts and never seems to end. Lord help us, because peace among us begins with peace within us. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace” (Col. 3:15, NIV).

I received a postcard from one of my stepsons. It was one of those “having a great time, wish you were here” cards with photos of azure seas and exotic beaches. You know, the ones that really make you want to be there! Unfortunately, the card came two months after the fact. So, while I was dreaming of his international sun, sea and sand adventures, he had been back home for two months! Earlier this year, the mail didn’t arrive at my home for two days. That lapse was so unusual I talked to a staff member at the post office. She said our carrier had COVID and they were so understaffed they couldn’t cover our rural route for those two days. Two days, not two months! So whenever you think about complaining about your mail service, be grateful for the U.S. Postal system!

As the white pickup passed me, the driver flashed his lights. Not sure if it’s the same all over the country, but in Texas that’s a signal a police car is parked ahead. Speeders beware! I wasn’t speeding and didn’t intend to, but touched my brakes anyway—automatic reaction. And, sure enough, right down the road, there he was, waiting, like a spider for a fly. As I passed, I wondered if I should return the favor by warning the approaching cars. I was conflicted as to whether I should or shouldn’t. It’s not illegal to flash lights and it slows down traffic, that’s for sure. But it also allows speeders off the hook. OK, after a little argument with myself, I did pass along the favor and warn a few people. I’ve been guilty of not paying attention to how fast I’m going. We can all use a little grace sometimes.

Do you consider yourself a fix-it person? I’m not talking about unclogging a drain or stopping a dripping faucet. I mean in more personal matters, such as trying to repair relationships between people. Maybe you are and maybe you’ve been successful at times, but my track record isn’t so good. I’ve tried to be a peacemaker only to have both parties resent my attempts. I’ve tried to calm simmering angry words only to make matters worse. I’ve prayed for years for people to overcome their animosity toward one another, but to no avail. I’m still going to pray because all in God’s good timing, but as my pastor once said: “Get over yourself! You’re not God! You can’t fix it!” He’s right. Some things only God can fix.

Do you believe in answered prayer? I mean, even in the smallest ways? Sometimes it’s hard not to question even when we get what we ask for. Much of my reading is in religious works, some rather academic, but I read many other books as well. I’m a reader. One night I was wishing I had something lighter to read, something to make me laugh. When I opened my Kindle an ad popped up for a book by an author I recognized. She writes books without much redeemable literary or social value, but which make you laugh. Was that a coincidence? It’s not even a book I would recommend to anyone! Why would God send me such a silly book, except he knew it would make me laugh and lift my spirits. Isn’t our God wonderful!

Fall in Texas

We’re actually having a fall in north Texas this year. Sometimes it seems fall is here for a week or two and then bingo, it’s winter chill! My trees are bursting with color! Well, not the post oak, blackjack and bur oaks so much, but the Chinese pistache and the sweetgum are yellow, red and orange gorgeous. When I lived and worked in Southern California all those years, as much as I enjoyed the pleasant winters, I did miss the seasons. What was interesting, in spite of no frost, the trees there turned into their fall colors anyway. Nature will have its way.