December 2, 2008

I’m decorating. I have a newly purchased tree and it’s a BIG one. I can’t reach the top of it, even with a ladder…that calls for my darling husband (DH) to have a great opportunity to be my white knight, once again.

I love taking my Christmas decorations out of the boxes each year. I oooh and aaah over each and every one, delighting in their beauty and uniqueness. I remember when and when I got each one, and who gave them to me if I didn’t purchase it myself. It’s like Christmas morning, opening gifts, except I get to open every box. No one really likes helping much with the decorating. It takes a lot of time to get everything out and set everything in its place. But, anything worthwhile does take a lot of extra time, doesn’t it?

I broke an angel tonight. She/He fell off the mantel. I grieve for her because I’ve owned her for at least 30 years. There are four of them, made of alabaster. This one’s going to have a hole in her back now, forever. I was trying to glue the piece back on when it accidentally fell into the hole I was trying to fill. Since it was covered with super-glue, it stuck to the inside and won’t even rattle. She’ll never get to stand in front of a mirror again, and she’ll be placed in the background. Well, maybe not. Maybe I’ll have compassion on the fallen angel and bring her to the for-front, cracks and all. It was really my fault she fell. I knocked her over trying to arrange the greenery behind her.

The snow has created the winter wonderland that we often sing about here in Michigan. Gobs of sticky, heavy, incredibly white snow, making every thing look clean and fresh. I do have a love/hate relationship with the snow. Right now it’s love, but by April it’ll be hate, when it’s all dirty looking and I’m tired of shoveling it. But for today, I love looking out my windows and seeing all the tree branches looking like someone dumped frosting on them. (Someone did…) Most of the trees just stand there, covered, with arms out-stretched towards the Lord. Others are bowing before Him, with the weight of his glory upon them.

December is always a special month for me. The birth of my savior, Jesus Christ, has got to be the miracle of all miracles. Peace on earth, good will towards men. I like to read it, Peace on Earth, Good will towards ME! God’s will is good for me. He wants me to have peace. Christmas reminds me of that. It’s also the month that my DH and I decided that we loved each other. The glory of Christmas romance (sounds like a good title for a Christmas novel) was all around us in 1974. And, it returns year after year. We talk about it every single year, remembering our first love and the first time we held hands while caroling outside someone’s house with our church group.

Tomorrow I will share with my business friends at a women’s luncheon the reason for the season and my hope for the New Year, my year of jubilee. I don’t mean to get all religious on them, but Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ. Without him, there is no Christmas. Praise His name Jesus, forever more.