When I Grow Up

Permit me a moment to brag about my friend Sharon. She had sent me such a sweet, hand-written note with her Christmas card, that I feel the need to tell you about her.

After years of homeschooling her four children, Sharon "graduated" and turned her focus to mentoring women and growing as a leader. She spoke at MOPs meetings, led Bible studies, and attended Bible classes and conferences. So when our church was in need of a new leader for the women's ministry, Sharon was the obvious choice.

Now what is surprising to those who do not know Sharon well is that Sharon is very much an introvert. She would be the first to tell you that she doesn't have the dominant personality that people would associate with a natural leader. Quiet and shy, Sharon prefers to be behind-the-scenes cooking and baking for church events. She and I have much in common! 

But I have heard her share about her personal struggles and her desire to be obedient to God, which has led her to where she is now– a pastor to women, a speaker, a daughter of God following the words of Titus 2:3-5. And as I have gotten to know her through our Bible study group and our women's discipleship time, I can say that, without a doubt, Sharon is who I want to be "when I grow up". My ambition is not to be her successor at our church, but to live in such a way that I could be a candidate.

As 2017 quickly approaches, I find myself thinking about my goals for the new year. One goal is to be purposeful in taking steps toward "growing up", with women like Sharon as my role models and mentors. Then in twenty years, I hope to be more kind, more patient, more wise, more bold, and more gracious than I was in 2016. I hope to be someone that young women can look up to. In short, I hope to be more like Christ.

Mary's Lullaby

[In addendum to my earlier post 'The Great Mystery', I wrote this song. 

"What was Mary thinking as she held Jesus in her arms?"]

Sleep baby sleep

I softly kiss your cheek

Dare I believe that this is the face of God I see

Sleep baby sleep

And tell me what you dream

In your mind's eye do you see both now and eternity?

Every time I hold your hands, every time you breath

I can hardly understand this awesome mystery

But even more mysterious is why God chose to be

Small and frail enough for me to hold him close to me

Sleep baby sleep

While in your face I seek

The face of my redeemer, the one to bring us peace

Sleep baby sleep

And hear this melody

But in my song do you hear the prayers of humanity?

Every time I hold your hands, every time you breath

I can hardly understand this awesome mystery

But even more mysterious is why God chose to be with us

This baby sleeping in the straw

Is the Great I am

A Great Light

Home for the Holidays?

"How was your Thanksgiving?" I asked the man behind the check-out counter.

"It was enjoyable," he replied. "I was with my friends and we had a good time."

"Oh, is your family not local?" I asked sympathetically.

"Oh, they're local. I just don't like being with them. It's always drama when I'm with them and this year I wanted some peace."

This scenario is becoming all too common. Mention "going home for the holidays" and you will get a number of scowls and frowns. How sad it is that so many people grew up in a house that was full of anger, abuse, or abandonment. They would never want to sing, "I'll...be home...for Christmas." Some don't even have a home to go to anymore because their parents are divorced or estranged.

Christmas is the perfect time to open your doors to these people. Invite them into the warmth of your home. You don't have to put on a big party or make a fancy dinner. Just think the three C's: coffee, cookies, and conversation. Start by getting to know them and making yourself available. Show them through your actions what a loving home is like. Then when the time is right, share with them the fourth and most important C: Christ. If a person grew up in a broken home, only God can heal them of those wounds.

And if you are the one groaning at the thought of going home for Christmas, but you are going anyway, pray for your time with your family. God can do miraculous things! Pray that you will be the peacemaker, the one showing God's grace. Remember the words of James 1:19: Know this, my beloved brothers, let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.

One more thought for this holiday season: Christmas is a bittersweet time for those who have lost loved ones. In the last month, four of my friends have lost parents. Others have lost loved ones earlier in the year. Be tenderhearted towards those who feel especially lonely right now and need extra love. Look for opportunities great and small to shine some light in their darkness!

The Great Mystery

One of the greatest perks of having a new baby is that the mystery of Christmas becomes almost tangible.

On the day after Thanksgiving, after chopping down our Christmas tree at a tree farm in the mountains, I was riding in the van next to the baby when one of my favorite Christmas songs came on. As Joy Williams sang the words "It's still a mystery to me that the hands of God could be so small," I looked down at my own baby's hands. He was holding my fingers, playing with me and delighting in his new skill of grasping. 

God?! As a baby?!

It struck me with the force of an ocean's wave. I started to cry just at the thought.

Because God being born as a human is like stuffing the universe into a jar. How did He do it? That's the great mystery.

I feel almost blasphemous saying that God was once a squirmy, giggly, chubby baby who slept in his mother's arms, except that it was true. Why did He do it? Another great mystery.

It overwhelms me. And every time I look at my baby I ponder on it afresh.

I've included a Youtube video of Joy Williams singing 'Here With Us' so that you too can listen to the lyrics and ponder on Christmas. (Alert- The video includes some beautiful footage from the movie 'The Nativity Story', but it ends with scenes from 'Jesus of Nazareth' showing Jesus being crucified. It's a great juxtaposition, but for some like myself, the crucifixion is difficult to watch. If that is your case, you can watch the video just until the last of the three magi give their gifts.)

Good Medicine

My neighbor was recently hospitalized for pneumonia. When she came home, she was slower and weaker than before and had trouble walking and lifting things.

I started going over everyday to do little things for her: bring her homemade cornbread, take out her garbage, fix her toilet seat cover. I usually went alone, but on Sunday I brought my baby with me. He was in a cheery mood and I knew that I could just lay him on a bed while I do a few things.

At the door, my neighbor was surprised and delighted to see the baby! While I took out the garbage, I left the baby on the bed so he and my neighbor could have an exchange of smiles and conversation. And when it was time to leave, my baby kept talking all the way to the door. It was such a sweet moment.

Later, I told my husband about our little visit. My husband gave the baby a squeeze and said, "Good medicine. He is good medicine."

So parents, don't think that having children means you have to give up serving. Children are great conversation starters! Take your children to visit the elderly, take them to the store, take them to church, take them anywhere where there are people who are lonely. Ignore the popular opinion that children are a nuisance. They are good medicine– a blessing, a joy, a gift from God.