The Assurance of the Manger

My house is all a bustle as we prepare to host family Christmas next weekend. Last night as I was hanging ornaments, my thoughts drifted back to my childhood Christmas home. If what comes to your mind is a beautifully trimmed and decorated tree with elegant ribbon and wrapping underneath, you’d be mistaken.

We couldn’t afford to buy a Christmas tree. Each year we would cut our own, not from a Christmas tree farm filled with perfectly shaped trees, but from an ordinary field with random pine trees. We lived in the country and would traipse through acres, and often mud, to find a tree that was remotely the size and shape of a traditional Christmas tree. We’d carry back our find like a prized trophy, then proceed to cut the branches to somewhat resemble the right shape. On occasion we’d even cut off a branch and graft it in with string or wire to cover a gaping hole. Then we’d hang large bulb lights, add old and often handmade ornaments, and then cover it with as much tinsel as possible. A handful of tinsel can cover an awful lot of imperfections. The messy, imperfect tree was fitting for our highly dysfunctional family.

Next came my favorite. We’d set up the manger scene. Ours was a small, simple manger with an angel with a broken wing, a few animals, Mary and Joseph, and baby Jesus. I loved the baby Jesus. If there were other pieces, I don’t remember them. Many years later, when my mom moved in with us, the manger made it to our house but not the character pieces. Somehow in the move we’d lost the baby Jesus.

If you are in a place where you don’t feel the presence of Jesus, know this. While it is possible to lose a baby Jesus, you can’t ever lose Jesus. Take comfort in that assurance. When our eyes are fixed on ourselves or on the troubles of the day, we don’t see Him. When our ears are filled with the siren song of the world or the lies of the enemy, we don’t hear Him. But, nevertheless, He is there, longing for intimacy with us, ready to carry our every burden, to break our chains and free us from our fears.

He is the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah. Through Him, all that is, or ever will be, came into being. He is the lover of your soul, your prince of peace, your good shepherd, your great treasure, and your savior redeemer. Turn your eyes and see.

                                                                                                                                 ©Ann Wilds

Countdown with Kindness

December is upon us and the countdown to Christmas is here. Thoughts of finding the perfect gift for friends and family begin to fill our minds. If you’re like me, you may already be well into your shopping.

The perfect gift is personalized to the needs and desires of the recipient.  What one person would love another would hate, so it can take effort to find just the right one. But there is something that is perfect for everyone and just the right size, though it is often a gift in short supply. It’s not the latest toy or electronic but simple love and kindness.

Turn on the tv, go online, and even look into homes, and it’s clear that they are something our world is in desperate need of.  A wise man once said, “be the change you wish to see in the world.”   I want to see more love and kindness, so that means I need to be more loving and kind.

“Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.”              Ephesians 4:32

You can share love and kindness no matter who you are or what your age for neither require position, experience, or money. They require only good intention and tender action.

Christmas is the day to celebrate the greatest kindness, the greatest love, and the greatest gift of all: the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. This year our family is counting down to it with random acts of  love and kindness. Won't you join us?

Imagine the impact we could have if each of us intentionally shines God’s light every day in December. It might spread, like ripples on the water, across kitchen tables, neighborhoods, and schools healing wounds and divisions across the land.

If you are joining us on the countdown, here is a printable kindness calendar along with a list of simple ideas to help get you started. You can download them here.  Have fun with it. The sky is the limit.

I’d love for you to share your countdown experience, so I invite you to come back to this post and leave a comment or send me an email at abwilds@yahoo.com.

Be blessed,

Ann

Family Traditions

(from the archives)
Ah, the smell of Christmas in the air. The aroma of cinnamon, sugar, and sweet golden cookies baking in the oven tantalizes the senses in our house this time of year. One of our Christmas tradition is baking cookies just as my husband’s grandmothers both did years ago. We even use many of the same recipes handed down for generations.

Some family traditions are fun, like baking yummy cookies or cutting your own Christmas tree. Others are a little different, like my in-laws baking ketchup into their macaroni and cheese. While still others are dangerous, or at best unhealthy, like anger issues, addiction, substance abuse and divorce.

Sometimes we can pass along or create traditions that we’re not even aware of. One year when our daughter was little, she became upset after we put out the nativity scene. To her it was on the wrong table. She didn’t want the position changed because to her its placement was a family tradition.

Unlike the physical traits we pass along to our kids, we can choose which traditions to carry on. We can even start fresh and create new ones. Unlike Hank Williams Jr., there are traditions from past generations in my family that I don’t want to continue. But to do so I need to make a conscious decision to take steps to circumvent them, keeping a watchful eye to take action should they arise. Just because they are part of my history, doesn’t mean they have to be part of my legacy.

Most families, if we’re honest, have a few unhealthy traditions. They may be obvious like: substance abuse, addiction or divorce or they may be more subtle like: prejudice, selfishness, money mismanagement, or irresponsibility. While we aren’t forced to carry on traditions, we do need to give thought to the one’s we’ve inherited so that we don’t inadvertently pass along undesired ones. Are there behaviors, temperaments and attitudes from past generations that you are unwittingly handing down to your children?

Now is a good time to reflect on just what family traditions you are passing along. Are they ones that reflect your values and create a stronger, healthier family? If not, there is never a better time to make a change than today.

While you are considering, please pass the milk. I need to pour a big glass to go along with my delicious sugar cookie.

Message for the Journey:
Family traditions provide us with a sense of identity, comfort and history. They can bring pleasure, but they can also bring pain if they are unhealthy ones. Just because something is part of our history does not mean it must be part of our legacy. May the traditions we pass down only be ones that glorify the Father.

©AnnWilds

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