I Stopped Giving It All at Christmas

By Lara Krupicka


“Please let me give flowers to my teacher,” my daughter begged that first year we were introduced to Teacher Appreciation Week. But out in my yard the only blooms visible were rows of wilting daffodils.

“Can it wait a few weeks?” I asked. My daughter cried. Within a few minutes, however, I had her excited at the prospect of the bright pink peonies and deep purple irises yet to bloom. More tears were shed that week as she daily recounted the flowers and gifts other children brought for the teacher. But, two weeks later she returned from school bursting to share how her flowers brightened the teacher’s day and her empty vase. That day I learned the value of bucking tradition when it comes to gifts.

If you’re like me, sometime in late October the anxiety begins to build. By Thanksgiving it’s a palpable knot in your stomach, and by mid-December it has become full-out panic. In the name of tradition and expectation we push ourselves to stressful heights during the annual holiday season. And chances are, at the end of each one we vow not to do it again. Yet October rolls around and… stress again. What to do? Change it up! Stop the old, stressful tradition and start a new one. Stop giving gifts to everyone on your list at Christmas. Instead, give your gifts of appreciation to people like your hairdresser, the mailman and yes, the school teacher, at other times of the year. You’ll find that spreading out your gratitude will result in benefits for both your recipients and for you.

Thoughtfulness

You’ll benefit by having the ability to be more thoughtful in choosing your gifts. With a self-imposed, flexible deadline, rather than one dictated by the calendar, you can find space to be creative and considerate. There will be no more last-minute dashes to the store to grab some old something for the doctor or babysitter.
Not only that, but the thoughtfulness becomes more apparent when the gift does not arrive at the traditionally appointed time. A few years ago I started giving teacher gifts during October and November. Having seen the mounds of gifts some teachers receive in December and the less-than-enthusiastic reception they induce behind closed doors, there is no doubt tradition equates with obligation for some people. And that defeats the purpose. My October gifts are separated from the season of obligation, and as such, stand a better chance of being appreciated for their sincerity. Rather than showing up in obligatory fashion, my gifts arrive unannounced, unexpected.

One year, my youngest daughter particularly enjoyed giving her teacher a fall gift. She giggled as we created the padded pumpkin, wrapping a roll of toilet paper (more giggles) in cushy batting and patterned fabric. And she proudly inserted the stick she’d found in our yard in the pumpkin’s top as a “stem”. The next day she stood erect in the line at school, clasping the gift bag to her chest. Later that afternoon, she leaned into my arm as I read the note from the teacher. “Thank you for the adorable pumpkin. It’s the only fall decoration I have for my desk. How thoughtful of you.” It made not only the teacher’s day, but my daughter’s as well.


Focus on the Recipient

Taking the time to think through and act on what would be most meaningful to our beneficiaries can greatly enhance the value of a simple gift. When during the year could they use the appreciation and encouragement the most? What gift or gesture would speak to them personally? Putting the focus on our recipient means watching, listening and learning about them in an effort to truly appreciate them individually. Instead of following our timeline or our “to do” list in a mechanical fashion, we act on a timeframe more suited to those we seek to bless. That speaks volumes. It elevates the value of the gift by virtue of being other-focused.

As church nursery coordinator I saw the need for this in my gifts to the nursery volunteers. I baked them cinnamon rolls in December in a nod to tradition. But then in February, when cabin fever reached its height and the end of the term seemed far away, I gave each of them a gift: an encouraging book I’d selected for specifically for each of them, along with a hand-written note expressing my gratitude. The impact of my timing led one of my volunteers to come thank me for my encouragement to her.

Freedom and Peace

Other rewards for bestowing appreciation gifts outside the frenzy of the winter holidays include freedom and peace. My holiday gift-buying list shrinks by at least a dozen when I shift the timing of my gifts of gratitude. This frees up space for baking, or entertaining, or even shopping for gifts for family members. It reduces the load of holiday preparations to a manageable size. I’m less stressed and it shows in everything I do during December.

We need to rethink giving our gifts of appreciation at Christmas. It may mean explaining to people our intentions, to counter any expectations related Christmas gift-giving traditions. But in doing so, we’ll lighten our own load and open the door to a season of peace and joy. We’ll bring our gifts into an open time frame; one better suited to the needs of those we’re giving to. And we’ll have more time, both for considering the gifts we give to those we appreciate and for those gifts remaining on our list for the holidays.

Why not give yourself a break this year and take appreciation gifts off your holiday “to do” list? You might come off as the best giver ever when you spread out the blessings over the entire year.

Lara Krupicka is a wife and mother to three tween girls. She writes and speaks regularly about gift giving, hospitality, and finding simple ways to live the abundant life Jesus promises us. Lara is also the author of Pampering Gifts: Crafting a Ministry of Treating People Well for Less.

Count Your Blessings

By LeAnn Rice


Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
(Psalm 118:1)

His steadfast love endures forever! Reason number one to be thankful!

All of us have good days and bad days. It’s part of life. But no matter how bad the bad days are, we can always hold on to this truth: The King is still on the throne and His love is steadfast and true and always. You simply can’t escape it!

As a young widow with a child, I experienced many “bad days” in the past 14 years (especially during the toddler years). There were days when I thought I wouldn’t make it another 24 hours without some help. But God never left my side and, over the years I started to notice the little blessings that each day held.

Whether you are experiencing the loss of a loved one, chronic illness, financial hardship, addiction, marital stress or other painful situations, you can find something to be grateful for each day. Looking for these blessings will refocus your thoughts toward Him, instead of your situation.

Honestly, this hasn’t always been easy. I have had days when all I could find to be grateful for was that the sun was shining or that I could actually get myself out of bed that morning. But, day by day I forced myself to count my blessings and eventually, I started to notice them all around me.

You may not be experiencing a rough patch. You may just be in the midst of a “normal” but hectic life and have a desire to develop an attitude of gratitude. Thanksgiving is a great time to focus on the things we are thankful for and get into the habit of thankfulness! Isn’t it easy to complain about the things that are inconvenient, frustrating, not going our way, etc? Just this week I found myself complaining about my piles of laundry. I should have been grateful that I have running water and a working washer and dryer when so many in our world do not have these items that I take for granted.

What about you? Do you struggle to notice the simple blessings in the midst of your hectic days? Are you experiencing a challenging time and really need to see some “good” right about now?

Here are a few practical ways to count your blessings that may become a new Thanksgiving tradition in your home.

Create a Blessing Box- Make or purchase a simple or ornate box (if you have kids, perhaps they can make and decorate one). Place cute notes or strips of paper, along with a pen, beside the box. Display the box, paper and pen in a location where everyone will see it several times a day. I like to place mine in the center of my kitchen table. At least once each day have everyone in the family write something they have to be grateful for on a strip of paper and place it inside the box. Do this throughout the year and then read the strips together in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

* Keep a Blessing Journal

Keep a journal beside your bed. Before you go to bed each night, write down at least three things that happened to you that day that you are grateful for. It could be as simple and wonderful as a child’s smile or laughter. It could be that you had enough money to fill your gas tank. Maybe a long soaking rain started right after you did some planting. Write down anything that you were grateful for that day. When you are having a rough day, pull out your journal and read through your blessings as a reminder that there is much to be grateful for, even in the midst of life’s challenging circumstances.

* Give a Good Night Blessing

When you tuck your kids in at night, ask them to tell you one good thing about their day. This ends their day on a positive note and gets them in the habit of noticing the blessings. Perhaps, keep a journal beside their beds as well!

* Create a Blessing Chain

You know those paper chains kids make in school? Make one out of blessings! Cut up strips of red and green paper a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Have your kids write down blessings on the strips and then staple together to form a chain. When you decorate your Christmas tree, place your blessing chain on the tree, around the bottom of the tree or on the mantle. Your decorations will be covered in blessings! This makes a great conversation piece, and provides the opportunity to share the Gospel with visitors!

* Make a Blessing Tree

Instead of making a chain out of the strips of paper, punch holes in the strips, tie a pretty ribbon through the hole, and then hang strips of blessings on a tree. You can do this for Thanksgiving or Christmas, just select the color of paper and ribbons to match the occasion! You can even use a large twig with lots of branches as your tree, or a houseplant, or make one on poster paper and tape on your blessings.

* Give a Treasury of God’s Promises

If you know someone who’s going through a difficult time, consider creating a box for them and fill it with God’s promises personalized just for them. Imagine opening the box and reading, “My plan for your future, Gabriel, is filled with hope.” I have created a free template with 100 of God’s promises ready for you to customize. Simply purchase or create a box, personalize the promises, print and cut them into strips, fold the strips and place in the box, and then tie the box with a beautiful ribbon. Perfect gift for any occasion! You can find the free template by visiting www.SheCooks.org and clicking on “Resources.” Scroll down to the middle of the page and you will see the template.

Sweet friends, I pray that your blessings will be too numerous to count and that God will reveal Himself to you in the most unexpected ways.

LeAnn Rice is the Executive Director of Proverbs 31 Ministries. She lives with her 17-year-old son, Nick, and their ornery cat, Angel, in a small town just outside of Charlotte, NC. LeAnn is co-author of the book “Untangling Christmas: Your Go-To Guide for a Hassle-Free Holiday,” an e-book filled with recipes, organization and gift suggestions, as well as tangible outreach ideas and ways to seek our Savior during the holiday. LeAnn shares recipes, grace, and southern hospitality on www.SheCooks.org and hope and inspiration on her site www.AWidowsMight.org.

Who Makes a Family?

By LeAnn Rice

Between the loss of my husband, Ron, and living on the opposite coast from my parents and in-laws, holidays felt mighty lonely. Empty chairs around the table, fewer stockings hung, and wrapping presents alone made me keenly aware of the smallness of my family of two. But letting people in is not easy for me. Loss and betrayal have resulted in protective walls around my heart. Big ones. Walls to keep me from being hurt again.

For years, I was so afraid of letting anyone in that I found myself completely alone with my sweet little boy who didn’t understand why our home wasn’t filled with family on special occasions and why there were so many empty chairs at our dinner table. I knew I desired our home to be filled with people, laughter and memories, but how could I make that happen?

I didn’t know, but God did. Over the years, God put little cracks in my walls and brought a handful of treasured friends to fill the empty chairs around our table and the voids in our lives.

~ Friends who fill in the gaps when I am unable to pick Nick up from school.

~ Friends who include us in family celebrations.

~ Friends who take care of home repairs that are beyond my capabilities.

~ Friends who let me be “Aunt LeLe” to their children.

~ Friends who notice that Nick needs a positive male role model in his life and someone to hit a tennis ball with.

~ Friends who help with the yard work in our overgrown forest of weeds and leaves.

~ Friends who notice that I don’t always fit in, so they find ways to fit me into their lives.

~ Friends who continue to eat my kitchen experiments no matter how many times I set
off the smoke alarm.

I may not have the life I imagined or hoped for, but it is my life and I am grateful for the blessings of family and friends who love Nick and me and fill in some of the empty spaces in our hearts.

I have to be honest though…I miss the holidays I used to have. Yes, I feel loved when my new “family” gathers for a big Thanksgiving dinner or a Christmas celebration. But, they have families of their own: parents, siblings, or in-laws to visit on Christmas, so our celebration takes place on a different day. Christmas morning comes around and it is still just Nick and me sitting by the tree. Well… except for that spoiled rotten cat of ours.

If you find yourself in the same situation here are a few ideas that I hope will help get you through the holidays:

• Find a family or organization that needs something you can offer. It may be bringing ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner to a family that can’t afford a turkey and fixings. Maybe a family needs help purchasing and wrapping presents for their children who would otherwise have no gifts under their Christmas tree. Collect warm coats, blankets and socks for a homeless shelter. Help a shut-in write and send Christmas cards to friends and family. Simply find a need (and there is always a need) that you are gifted and have a heart for, and fill it.

• See if there are others who will be alone on a holiday and celebrate together. Prepare and serve a “family” meal or have everyone bring a dish to share. Maybe include a silly game to keep the mood lively.

• Volunteer to serve a holiday meal at a local soup kitchen.

I have found that doing for others makes me feel so much better. It takes the focus off of me, and I am blessed to be a blessing to someone else.

Maybe your situation is different. Maybe your home will be filled with family and friends this holiday season. Do you know someone who will be alone? Consider opening your home and heart to include them in your celebration. But please do not be offended if they say “no.” Sometimes it is actually harder to be a part of someone else’s celebration because it brings back memories of what you once had. But, even when I say “no,” it means so much to have been invited…to feel like I matter to someone.

Whether you are alone this holiday season, or you have a house brimming with family, I pray that God reveals Himself to you in a very real and tangible way. May He be all that you need. May He fill every empty space. May He draw you nearer to His heart.

Sweet Blessings,
LeAnn

LeAnn Rice is the Executive Director of Proverbs 31 Ministries. She lives with her 17-year-old son, Nick, and their ornery cat, Angel, in a small town just outside of Charlotte, NC. LeAnn shares hope and inspiration on her site www.AWidowsMight.org and recipes, grace, and southern hospitality on www.SheCooks.org.

Recipes for your Christmas Tea

Provided by Lisa Boalt Richardson

Basic Sweet Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons very cold butter, cut into small pieces
¾ cup heavy whipping cream
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry cutter or mixer until it looks crumbly. Add vanilla to cream and then pour into flour mixture and mix with hands until it forms a ball. Remove dough from bowl, place on a lightly floured surface, and roll out to about ½-inch thickness. Be careful not to overwork the dough or the scones will become tough. Cut with a 2-inch round cookie cutter. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Makes approximately 12. (You may use different size cutters but be sure to adjust you cooking time if you do. The larger the size, the longer it needs to cook and vice versa. Serve with jam or lemon curd.


Easy Microwave Chocolate Truffles

A easy way to impress your guests and you palate. You may want to make more and give away as gifts!

½ cup heavy cream
3 T butter cut into chunks
2 T sugar
1 T vanilla
10 oz. good quality bittersweet chocolate (60%) I like Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips. (If not using chips, break up chocolate into small pieces)
½ t salt

Cocoa Mixture
Mix 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa and 1/3 cup powder sugar together. For a saltier taste add 1/8 t salt.

Microwave cream, butter and sugar in 2 quart microwavable glass bowl on high for 1 ½ minutes. Stir well; heat an additional 1 minute longer or until mixture comes to full boil. Stir in vanilla and chocolate into cream mixture until chocolate is completely melted. Add salt and blend. Chill until firm enough to shape into balls about 3 hours. Shape into 1-inch balls. If desired roll truffles in Cocoa Mixture. Store covered in refrigerator. Makes about 2 dozen.


Lisa Boalt Richardson author of Tea with a Twist is one of the first 15 in the world to graduate from the Specialty Tea Institute with a "Certified Tea Specialist" title. She travels the country speaking at conferences and special events focusing on her culinary arts and specialty tea expertise. She resides in Atlanta with her husband and two children. For more information go to www.lisaknowstea.com.

Recipes used by permission and are a copyrighted by Lisa Boalt Richardson from “Tea with a Twist". Proverbs 31 Ministries is pleased to offer Lisa’s book “Tea with a Twist” for sale. All proceeds benefit the ministry. Click here to order.

More Everyday Life with the Staff of Proverbs 31 Ministries!

Ya’ll must have known that with so many women in the office we would need more room to share what’s on our hearts. We simply couldn’t get it all into our magazine article so here’s a bit more from the office staff. Some sweet… some silly… but all heart!

It’s amazing to hear what God is doing throughout the country at the speaking engagements I book. From small MOPS groups with limited budgets to elaborate cruise weekends to men’s groups hosting for the women in their church, the event ideas are limitless. And the testimonies of the work of the Lord through these speaking engagements are remarkable! (Barb Spencer)

Families always play practical jokes on each other – my family knows I eat fruit at my desk and this time the practical joke was on me. I left a small cluster of grapes on my computer overnight. When I came in the next morning all the grapes had turned to raisins – can you imagine that the heat of my computer made that miraculous transition that only God can make. Well that’s what I thought. But one of my sisters had actually meticulously taken every grape off and attached a raison to the end of each stem. All this to say that we do have fun but we also do work – last week we had orders for 700 Bibles to be sent out from a devotion that was written with a commitment to read through the Bible in a year with every person who ordered one – Now that’s the miraculous. (Teri Bucholtz)

As the Speaking Ministry Assistant, my main responsibility is drafting contracts for Proverbs 31 speaking events. Probably the best part of my job is working with Barb Spencer. We work as a team to coordinate the calls that come in to request a speaker and the contracts that need to go out to book the speaker. We have the pleasure of working with churches and wonderful women's ministry leaders from all across the country. It has been such a blessing to serve the ministry in this area, and if you want to book a speaker, please call and we will be happy to assist you. (Wendy Blight)

At the time I came to P31, I had just experienced a very shocking, traumatizing and devastating family experience. I was deeply hurt, very broken and barely functioning. God orchestrated my arrival at P31 and since being there, it has provided me a safe, healing environment to be right at the heartbeat of this great ministry that ministers healing to women all over the world. To work with women who are faithful, have a heart for God and true prayer warriors is an experience of a lifetime -- I don't know that many Christians get this kind of opportunity to work in such an environment! It is just what God knew I needed, and I am humbled to be a part of serving in this ministry as I continue my journey to wholeness and serving the Lord along side these beautiful, godly women! (Terri McCall)

And here are some fun tidbits of the day-to-day everyday life in the Proverbs 31 Ministries office:

Exercise balls serve as desk chairs for many of us. While it’s great to “work out” while working, these ‘chairs’ have their downside too. Every once in a while we hear a loud thud followed by, “I’m okay!” after one of our gals lose her balance and topple off her ball.

We’ll probably never be recruited for Broadway, but it should be known that we girls can sing and dance with the best of them! Sing one bar of a song and you’ll hear voices piping in from all over the office! Often times we take a break to dance to the tune as well! (Someone brought bamboo into the office last week which apparently required a rendition of “The Old Bamboo” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!)
What’s in a name? Well, fun memories, shared work, and good times…over the years we’ve created some pretty unusual knicknames: Tarb (Barb filling in for Teri); Samdy (Samantha and Wendy’s favorite pizza: pepperoni, pineapple and ham in case you want to know); and the ever affectionate The Queen (LeAnn of course!).

We’re all well beyond school age, but we still have a lunch bell that rings each day. Her name is Wendy Pope and she’s the glue that binds us as we share so much more than a meal together. Concerns, family stories, real life and reminiscing (three of our girls went to the same high school but didn’t know each other!!) flow easily during this sweet time.

The weeks leading up to She Speaks create a flurry of activity: rushed jobs to the printer; runs across town for toner cartridge; piles of boxes from floor to ceiling, corner to corner; phone lines lit up; staffer’s kids coming and going as they volunteer to fold, stuff, lift and sort; loading U-Hauls…and lots and lots of prayer and excitement!

And finally, because a picture is worth a thousand words… we wanted to share a few photos of our office family with you.


Cover Shot "Blooper"



A Love Fest



From our “home” to yours, we wish you a joy-filled Christmas!




Aster providing "quality control"




Over 600 Bibles waiting for the UPS "dude"



Melissa praying with a caller



Wendy and Teri packing Bibles for shipping



Teri packing books for an event

Putting Things in Order Before the Holidays

By Glynnis Whitwer

Organizing experts say five minutes of planning can save 30 minutes of doing. I think that’s a pretty good trade off. Unfortunately, I tend to forget that truth and plow ahead with the doing. Inevitably, I end up duplicating efforts, retracing my steps and coming home from the store with nothing for dinner. Yet as we approach the end-of-the-year holidays, I don’t have time for being unorganized.

I want this time of the year to be special for my family and friends. I want to celebrate the birth of Christ in a variety of ways. I want to create margin in my schedule to allow for the unexpected opportunities. I don’t want the demands of everyday to overshadow the call of the divine.

For me, the only way for those goals to be achieved is for me to plan. Planning helps me take care of the extra requirements of the season, so I look upon them with joy instead of resentment.

The best place for me to start is with my home. If I can get my house in order, my time and energy can be freed up to focus on God’s best. I want to focus on things that bring joy, awe, inspiration, fellowship, and blessings to those I love … and myself.

To get organized, I identify my priorities, then plan to address those. Here are some areas of my “home” I’m working on.

Home
· Clear the refrigerator, freezer and cupboards. I like to finish off any leftovers, food items that have been frozen for awhile, and partially full containers, to make room for all the holiday specialties. That means I’ll be intentional in my menu planning.
· Steam clean carpets.
· Washing windows.
· Touch up the front entrance. This will include painting the dinged spots, replacing flowering pots, hanging a new flag, and putting up a holiday wreath.

Decorating
· Schedule a day to decorate the house and the tree with the family. Make it a party with hors d’oeuvres and music!

Cooking
· Plan menus now for special meals.
· Then, watch for sales, using coupons to save money.
· Bake some items and freeze (breads, soups, casseroles)

Clothing
· Review winter clothing supplies. Check and make sure everyone has a winter jackets, gloves, etc. I also check to make sure my children have the required outfits for school band and choir performances. Funny how they outgrow black shoes each year.

Spiritual Needs
· Purchase Advent calendar.
· Purchase or borrow a Christmas devotional to read with family.


Hospitality Needs
· Plan homemade gifts for neighbors/teachers/friends.
· Schedule two or three nights to invite friends over who don’t have family in town.
· Plan a cookie exchange party with girlfriends.
· Schedule a Progressive Dinner with small group.
· Plan a cookie decorating party for children in family and neighborhood. Share the Christmas story through cookies.

I think that’s a good start. But I’ll probably add to that list. Too often I regret what I forget. Hopefully, with some planning, I’ll create more opportunities to experience the presence of Jesus during His birthday season.

Glynnis Whitwer is on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries, and the editor of the P31 Woman Magazine. She’s also the author of two books, and co-author of four Bible studies. You can review Glynnis’ books here. Glynnis and her husband Tod run two businesses from home, and are the proud parents of five children. To read more about Glynnis, visit her blog at www.GlynnisWhitwer.com.

The Joy of Music in the Holiday Season

by Rebekah Howell

As the temperature drops and the days shorten, many dread the coming winter. In our household this change in the seasons was not accompanied by distress of being cooped up in the house, but anticipation of the coming holiday season. Waking up to a white blanket of snow glistening in the sun filled me with life and energy for the celebration of the coming of our Lord and Savior. One of the most precious ways my family celebrates the birth of our Lord is through the gift of music.
Many people have forgotten the joy of music during the holiday season. As long as I can remember, music has played a significant role in my family’s celebration of Christmas. Every year, we gather together with all of our relatives for the “Ahlquist Family Christmas Sing.” Of course we would share a Swedish dinner together and then gather around the piano where Grandpa would play. My brother and I eagerly watched as his fingers smoothly glided over the keys, not a piece of music in sight. I was sure he had the whole hymn book memorized! The room was filled with joyful varieties of Christmas tunes including old Swedish hymns, the well-known children’s songs, and the dearly loved Christmas carols. As the family has grown over the years, we have not given up on this tradition. In fact, we now have the youngest children dress up and act out the nativity with Christmas carols interspersed among the story. It is one of my most cherished traditions!
Another musical highlight of the Christmas season for my family was Christmas caroling. Because my father was a doctor, he enjoyed taking us down to the nursing home and the hospital. Usually on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, we would get all bundled up and head over to visit his patients. Whether playing our instruments or simply walking through the halls singing as we went, it was such a delight to share the joy of music with those who had to spend Christmas away from home!
During our first year of marriage, I was excited about developing our own musical Christmas traditions. We lived in a large apartment building in downtown Chicago, so my husband and I decided to host a caroling party. I realized that we hardly knew any of the people that lived in the apartment building, and I wanted a way to share the love of Christ with them. We sent out homemade invitations inviting all of our friends to join us in this musical ministry. I also made fudge and wrapped it up into little gifts for all those we visited. On the night of the party when our guests arrived, we walked from floor to floor Christmas caroling to all who were home. Everyone loved it! Even the night guard was delighted to be serenaded by a group of college students as he sat behind the desk.
No matter where you live, Christmas caroling is a great way to get people together and meet those in your neighborhood that you never seem to cross paths with. Why not invite those you visit to join the group as you go from house to house? And make sure to end the night around a blazing fireplace or with a mug of hot cocoa back at your house! Whether you venture out into the crisp cool night to carol around town or you simply bring the whole family together for a night of singing, it will be a precious treasure in the memories of all who participate!

The Blessing of Christmas

By Julia Howell

Early in the holiday season, right around Thanksgiving time, I always feel a stirring of excitement in my heart. It reminds me of the unbridled joy I felt as a child anticipating the “most wonderful time of the year.” With visions from Southern Living dancing in my head, the decorations come down out of the attic and I begin to plan for our best Christmas ever. Inevitably, however, the Grinch comes along, and before I know it I have lost all sense of the true reason for the season. I find myself lost in a flurry of shopping, Christmas programs, and parties. By the time the last note is sang in the choir program, the last present is wrapped (for which I paid way too much), and the last dish is baked, I cannot help but feel disappointed at the emptiness in my soul.
This year, though, an unexpected phone call and an invitation from the associate pastor at our church became the catalyst of change: “We are in need of another woman to serve as a counselor during the Lighthouse Foundation’s toy store give-away. Are you interested?”
I was already a bit familiar with the work of the Lighthouse Foundation, a local Christian effort that reaches out to the less fortunate children and youth of our community. At Christmas, they arrange for parents who have no means of providing toys for their children to visit a “toy store” and choose gifts. Through an application process, those selected are scheduled a time, prioritized by need, to visit the store. The parents (usually single moms) are taken to a room when they arrive and presented the gospel message. Those who desire more information are separated out of the group and sent to see an invitation counselor—which is where I would serve.
“I’d be glad to!” I heard the words come out of my mouth before I felt the nudge of fear in my heart and my head remembered I would have to take a leave day from work. “But,” I added, “Let me pray about it.” It didn’t take much prayer for me to become convinced this opportunity was God inspired and I agreed to do it—even though my comfort zone was severely threatened.
The morning of the giveaway arrived and we were blessed with unusual spring-like December weather. About eight of us gathered at our church for a van ride to the mission. In a few short minutes, we had left the more opulent area of our town and arrived at a small non-descript metal building in the midst of small non-descript rental housing. No fancy holly wreaths or lavish decorations here. In their place, steel bars secured many of the neighborhood windows. I could not help but marvel at how two vastly different cultures could co-exist only a few miles apart.
We were met at the door by event organizers, briefed, and ushered into a room to begin. Without separate counseling rooms available, each counselor would need to separate themselves from the group and find a place in the room to talk quietly with those sent to us.
In less than five minutes, the first group entered. I noticed Michelle from across the room—a young, blond girl with tearful eyes and stooped shoulders. Even before she was introduced to me, I knew she was the one out of the group God had chosen for me to counsel. We found our “spot” and I tried to place her at ease.
“I have a daughter about your age. May I ask how old you are?” I smiled and gave her a hug, because she looked like she needed someone to show her love. With her hair in a ponytail, she appeared so youthful it was difficult to imagine she was here to get toys for a child of her own.
As we talked, some of her barriers melted away and a flood of pent up sorrow poured forth. I discovered she was indeed my daughter’s age- all of 19-years-old. She shared through sobs that she already had two children under the age of three, and her live-in boyfriend had recently skipped out of town. She had moved in with her single mother who was trying to support them on next to nothing. “I really do want to change,” she assured me, “But I don’t know how. I’ve made such a mess of my life that it seems hopeless.”
By the time we finished our talk Michelle had prayed to surrender her life to Jesus Christ, and she promised to find a church to attend. I smiled as I watched her walk away. No longer stooped, she stood tall and had a new bounce in her step. My own heart soared to new heights. Before the day ended, the Lord allowed me to share Him with four more women who accepted Him as Savior.
Our group sat in contemplative silence as we returned to the church. Funny that I didn’t notice the housing on the way back—my mind was on a baby born in a stable in a “non-descript” section of Bethlehem. The true Blessing of Christmas had come into this world without fanfare or wealth to become our Savior. Each of our group had experienced a blessing today, but the blessing had not been in the giving of ourselves, our time, or anything we had done. The giving of the blessing was all God’s doing; we who had desired to bless others had become the blessed.
Christmas morning arrived and my family gathered around our tree to open gifts. In the midst of all the ohs and ahs as we examined our presents, my thoughts traveled back to Michelle. I wondered how her Christmas morning was going and if her children were excited with their toys. And I wondered if she was rejoicing that her once empty soul was now full of hope, even as I marveled at the joy that filled my own.