December

Oh boy, December is promising to be winter from the start. To the weather people, December 1 is the start of “Meteorological Winter”. To astronomers, we have to wait until the moment when the sun reaches its southern-most point of being directly overhead, approximately December 21. Since only a portion of the globe will experience cold and snow, our calendars mark the first day of winter as the astronomical winter, December 21. Whatever, we’ve seen sufficient cold, a few snow flakes and the need to get out the gloves for driving to convince us that it’s winter, now!
The day before Thanksgiving, I was driving to the store, when I was slightly delayed by a bicyclist peddling along the edge of the other side of the road. He seemed to have all of his life’s possessions with him, either wearing them or somehow strapped to the bike. A hood and a beard hid most of his face, but he didn’t look like life was very good at the moment. Somehow, the story of the Prodigal Son came to my mind. I wondered if this was a young man who had wasted some of his youth testing all that seemed good and exciting only to find it was, indeed, wasted. I wondered if he was returning to a home, humbled and exhausted, to see if he would be welcomed by a loving family that had grieved for him, prayed for him, and hoped he would “come to his senses”. I hope so.
As these holidays are upon us, and all you are exposed to is wonderful: glamorous gifts, glitzy parties, exciting football games and parades, we wonder,
- as we do every year, - what is the real reason we are celebrating? In real life, we know that there are people in the hospital, in nursing residences and in our homes for whom the holidays pass almost unnoticed. We know there will be accidents during travel with tragic consequences. We know there will be persons missing at the banquet table, perhaps even a Prodigal Son.
We can’t help but admire those folks who feel moved, by whatever motivation, to fill the food banks, serve holiday meals to crowds, donate supporting funds, collect coats and even provide toys for innocent children. Deep down, there seems to be a spirit that urges many folks to want to help others. And, without saying a word, we wonder if that isn’t the Holy Spirit at work within the hearts of the people who know, or perhaps don’t yet know, the loving God. The God Who gives us a desire to take a specific day to express our thanks for all our blessings. And to take a specific day to celebrate the day of arrival when God sent His Son to live life just as we do, and yet live without sin. With all the “noise” that surrounds Thanksgiving and Christmas, we hope everyone will set some time aside to reflect – What are my blessings? Am I aware of how Jesus Christ affects the way I live?
Have a Blessed Christmas. Virginia

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:19-20