Thursday, December 9, 2010

Dear God,

Today I stood on my wobbly ladder hanging Christmas lights on the house. I admit I felt like Clark Griswold when my bag of hangers fell to the ground twice and spilled all over, when one of the hangers got stuck and I couldn't dislodge it, when the finger of my glove got caught under one of the hangers, when I tried to pull out just one hanger and a long chain of interlocked hangers came out and I had a hard time pulling them apart, when the ladder fell to one side and nearly knocked me to the ground, when my bag of hangers caught on the bare lilac bush as I was trying to take down the ladder, and when I walked into a tree branch and nearly put out my eye. As I remembered Clark and his 25,000 light debacle, I had to laugh and so I did as I finished up.

This glorious season does something to me! Perhaps I am just ready for a dose of your spirit or maybe I am just a Christmas lover or per chance I am a hungry recipient for all that Christmas brings. Whether it is true or not, I do feel a quickening spirit in the air. I sense that you are at work bring hope, peace, love and joy to all. Although I am totally turned off by the whole shopping thing, I do get it that we are reaching out to give gifts to others.

The music really touches me. As I sit on Wednesday nights rehearsing for Christmas Eve, I hold on to the reality that Christ really is born again every Christmas like the first time. The world was shocked and surprised then that God's love was so big and I am convinced we still think so today. For me your presence is the real gift. I don't have to open all my packages and get more in order to experience Christmas. My getting ready for it is simply an occasion to give thanks for what I have already received. I carry all your gifts with me every day.

Who can
outgive you, Lord?
Who can
provide more
lavish gifts?
Each morning
as I awaken,
I breathe
my prayers
of thanksgiving
because I believe
your spirit
was with me
all night long
and will
accompany me
throughout the
new day.
Help me
to bless others
this season
with my
own gift
of joy
and appreciation.

Love always, Andrea