What a treat to wake up Friday morning to a ground covered with snow. By the time I left for work, the snow was everywhere, except roads and sidewalks thankfully, and it was still falling briskly. It appeared to stop a few minutes past 11 a.m. Friday morning. The fluffy, white covering stayed all day and night, waiting until late Saturday morning to begin melting away.
Did anyone else make snow cream? I confess I could not resist, and it was a delight to be enjoyed. There is something magical about snow, at least in the south, where it is a rare visitor; maybe made more so since it comes so beautifully and disappears before we have a chance to get tired of it.
It worked magic in my own heart I know. During my Thanksgiving trip to Louisiana, I put up a Christmas tree and decorated the trailer a little bit. I had no intention of decorating my home here. After the snow, however, I not only put up a tree, but I put up two, one in the den and one on the front porch, with lights, wreaths, and whatever else I had on hand. The snow reawakened the Christmas spirit in me. I did a little local shopping and got one of those lights that put stars all over the front of the house.
Today at church, my grandson, Kolby, asked me when I was going to take him shopping for his Christmas. I told him I had planned to get him a shopping card. He said he wanted to shop with me. What a great surprise that was. I hope he enjoyed the lunch, shopping, and conversation as much as I did.
After the shopping excursion, I visited Ruby Jean Chaney at River Birch Estate Assisted Living. I have taken her a small poinsettia almost every year since we were next-door neighbors. We visited in her room until near dinner time, and I left her at the dining room. She is a truly fine Christian woman. I have admired her for all the years I have known her. She has never made me feel like an outsider but like we were friends my whole life. Thank you, Ruby Jean.
The visiting preacher at church this morning mentioned that December is the month with the most depression and suicides of the year. Why would this be? Maybe because we pressure ourselves into believing everything has to be perfect for Christmas. So? What if everyone (yes, the children, too) do not get everything they asked for? Maybe we all need to be reminded now and then, in the words of The Rolling Stones, “You Don’t Always Get What You Want.” Having everything handed over to us is too easy anyway. Waiting, or working for the things we want are character builders. And if we never get it, we learn to live with that too, don’t we?
It is easy to let negative situations affect our moods, dampen our spirits. All around us there are things to bring us down. That is why we should surround ourselves with the positive, the uplifting, as much as possible. I have learned to choose priorities. Don’t worry that things will happen that are not a problem now. Sometimes negative thinking and attitudes bring about the very situations we created in our minds. Thank God for the good things that happen, and put all real problems in His hands, and relax. They are in the best place they could possibly be.
Congratulations to Reid Chapel Church of God for their first place float win in the Christmas parade last week.
Also, congratulations to sixth grader, Kale Grayson, who went up five levels on STAR, and is now at a 12th grade level.
There are 15 days until Christmas. This really shouldn’t send anyone into a hole of frustration. The season is about the birth of a child to a virgin, a child who would grow up and take all of our sins to the grave with Him, and win victory over that death. Not just victory for Himself, but for us. Try to keep that in mind as you plan your holiday get-togethers. Sure we all strive for perfection, but if it doesn’t turn out that way, who will remember it in ten years?
The Lord bless and keep you through the next week and meet me back here next week. I still plead for your input on this column. If I know about it, I report it. Otherwise, I write what is on my heart and mind.
