Reflections

The night is still soft and dark when I awake. My neck is stiff and a bit painful. Apparently I slept on it wrong. I fill the coffee maker with clear cool water and a scoop of the Snickerdoodle coffee our daughter sent as a gift. I take a warm shower, letting the water pulse onto the stiffness in my neck. I towel dry, get dressed into something comfy, then pour myself a cup of fresh coffee before turning off the kitchen light and snuggling into my wicker rocker.

Looking out the patio door I watch the blinking yellow, red and white lights of traffic flowing by on the highway. The swag of holly and Christmas lights behind me reflects softly in the glass of the patio door. The night is quiet. It is 3:34 a.m. My soul is easing back into life, reflecting on Christmas.

The lyrics of John Lennon's Happy Xmas (1971) rise from my memory.

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red one
Let's stop all the fight

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
A new one just begun
And so happy Christmas
We hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very Merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear...

Despite the tears softly forming in the corners of my eyes, this was a good Christmas: the festive worship with friends at White Flag (surrendering our lives to Christ), the awe and wonder of midnight mass at Saint Martin of Tours, the delight of watching our grandkids open the Santa presents on Christmas morning, the simple lunch of ham balls... our son has perfected his father's recipe.

As I look out into the still dark night, the yellow, red and white lights of the traffic are flowing faster now. Morning is coming... a new day.

Let's hope it's a good one, without any fear.

R

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” -- Moses, Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

Gold

Christmas time is here again! This year there is a little more cheer. I bought myself a reindeer stocking, hung it, then realized Santa wouldn't be stopping by to fill it ... so I got out some index cards and markers, and am writing down notes of blessings to tuck into my stocking. I will empty my stocking and read them on Christmas eve.

2019 was a year of spending too much time working--especially at my retail job--and I am feeling a nervous freedom having resigned. God picked up where I let go and in addition to all the wonderful people I edit for, God's provision comes in the blessing of a second agent paying me to coordinate her real estate transactions in 2020.

The Grands -- our grandchildren -- are growing and are such a blessing. The youngest one has decided to like me (she didn't for the first year because I usually appeared to babysit and mama promptly disappeared). Now her little face lights up when she sees me. Be still my heart!

I plan to be with our son and daughter-in-law -- at their home and with the Grands -- at Christmas. Our daughter and son-in-law will visit in late December, and my sister will be here with her pocket beagle, Shelby, in early January.

This morning a friend texted me a video of the golden sun rising. Inspired by her sunrise I texted back to her the lyrics from a childhood song: "Make new friends and keep the old. One is silver and the other gold..."

I pray that in this season of Birth, all is well with your soul, that those you love are near, and that after all the gifts are opened your Christmas stocking overflows with gratitude.

Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:5 NLT

Blessed Christmas!

R