Expressions of love

Ithink if you put Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter together you would have the perfect holiday. These special days should compel us to think, be challenged and of course be changed. Transformation is part of God’s plan for our lives and if we miss that we will miss a lot.

This fall (change of seasons) has been especially good to me and has been the catalyst for a heart of gratitude that I hope extends beyond the holiday season. Typically, I grumble about the cooler weather but this year I’ve embraced it like a new friend. I tend to lean towards being a workaholic. It might be age, but I hope it’s Jesus that’s giving me the ability to slow down and enjoy some things life has to offer - both the good and not so good. I’m just “seeing” things differently right now for which I am extremely grateful.

I was praying in the old home office earlier today, maybe it was more like confessing. If I’m in the business (Christianity) and I forget what the business is all about, how can I expect much more from others? What I’m saying is I think we forget what being a Christian is all about. If Jesus said, His burden was light, why do I see so many Christians that are: Burdened, weary and carrying heavy loads (Matthew 11:28-30).

The Blonde really is my best friend, I love her and I love her a lot. She’s smart, she’s everything I’m not and she loves Jesus. Jennifer wakes me up every day with a happy and cheerful, “Good morning!” She then kisses me and says, “I will meet you in the kitchen.” When I get there, she has brewed my coffee (Peet’s French Roast) in our high dollar grind and brew Cuisinart coffee maker and she is ready to talk about the day and then pray with me. Jennifer represents Christ to me; the grace she extends to me is the grace of God. There is no reason for Jennifer to love me, the same with God. She has no reason to do for me, the same with God. There is no reason for her to treat me so well, the same with God. She likes me and I can’t do anything about it, the same with God.

I was reminded this morning about a man about my age who came and sat next to me at church one day. He was not a regular, he was poor, and he often only came to church when he needed something. He sat next to me and told me he was ready for Christmas. I asked him, “Why?” He replied he had written Santa to get him a new pair of overalls for Christmas. I kind of chuckled and asked him who he had sent the letter to - he looked at me like I was crazy then he shared, “Kris Kringle” and said something about “Haven’t you ever watched the movie, ‘The Miracle on 34th Street?’” I realized he was not kidding around.

My point is the way the Blonde represents Christ to me through expressions of love I realized I need to be the same to others and that included my sometimes- poor friend with worn-out overalls. I had not been Santa for a long time, but it was time to dust off t he s leigh a nd fi nd out where they sold overalls.

He told me to tell you that.