Saturday morning Kevin drives me to meet up with friends I used to work with. We get together throughout the year to see movies, eat dinner and have some girlfriend time. I greet them dolled up in make up and swollen eyes. We greet each other with hugs and head out to breakfast. I feel like I have a hangover (don't ask). My head hurts, my mouth is dry and the light hurts. I order a diet coke and all is well. It is my drug of choice. Bad girl I am! We have breakfast and exchange gifts. I go first and give my favorite gifts...candles. We are all so polite and gracious. My friend Kathy decides to go next and give us her gifts. She unloads a big bag of gifts. She apologizes for the wrap because her husband wrapped them. The gifts were basically rolled in the wrap and taped. They looked so funny. My dear friend announces that she hasn't been back to work long since her back surgery and finances aren't good. We assure her it is okay and thank her. I go first and open my gift from her. Ladies, I didn't know what to say. I pulled out a blue, gaudy, vase, with a sprig of yellow artificial flowers, and a dusty, plastic doily to place under the vase. The vase was dirty. Well I was not going to hurt her feelings but I was not going to lie. So I cheerfully say" Well, I like flowers, and I can do something with these." My other friend Cindy opens hers. She receives a cloth bunny. It is homemade and kinda cute. It had dirty feet and wrinkled. She says it is "cute". Tami opens her gift. It is a used flower basket with dusty potpourri and silk flowers on the handle. Then Tami and Kathy burst out laughing. It was a prank. I was relieved but "exposed". They note that Anna will say anything to make someone feel good. I am not sure it was a compliment or not, but it was true! Kathy, gave us pretty jewelry, and other great things. I received other great gifts as well by my special friends. However, the best gift ever was the belly laugh that once again brought tears to my eyes. Shopping and a Christmas movie followed our breakfast. It was a great day.
Sunday I attended two Christmas choir programs. Our church did a program called "A Christmas Invitation". Our choir had did this program previously. Our director chose to perform it again. I was in the audience this year and it was a blessing. I sat there not just listening but watching a small choir come together with their various opposing positions and views about recent events in our church. They came together to praise and worship our Savior's birth. I watched and I thanked God for the process of healing and re-bonding of our church members. This is a wonderful gift.
The next program was Sunday night. This church had 11 choir members. Though small in number they had BIG voices. I was told it was going to be a "Blue Grass" program. I was excited about the invitation but to be honest "Blue Grass" isn't a big favorite of mine. I go to this sweet little country church prepared to enjoy seeing some nice friends. I leave church blessed with a renewed spirit of giving and serving. I left no longer focused on my burdens but on the true meaning of Christmas. GIVE! Give out and serve because of God's gift of His son. It is time to "Go tell it on the Mountain". Ladies, these choir members sang familiar Christmas carols accompanied by a 3 piece professional blue grass band. It was calm and soothing. It was precious. They didn't have 10 ft poinsettia trees, and a grand piano. They didn't have comfy, upholstered chairs. They had it in mind to sing unto the Lord and share their church's love and serve their members and guests. They served up refreshments and gave the old fashioned bags of fruit, nuts and candy. It was awesome. It was real Jesus on display. They greeted, hugged and kept everything simple and sincere. However, I must point out they decorated their basement absolutely gorgeous and we ate surrounded in beauty because of someone's servant heart. I look forward to our church moving from healing to genuine focus on serving.
I probably get on your nerves with my reference to choosing joy. I don't mean to infer that I am such an unhappy person and have to go around choosing joy, because I am not. I do have an inner joy that comes from being chosen by God to serve Him and relate with Him. I, however, am real about the fact that some days we are sick, tired, lazy, depressed, angry, etc. We can either do nothing about it and find someone to complain to, retrieve into ourselves, OR we can make ourselves reach out to friends, family, or other resources to pull ourselves out of our rut. Some of us may wallow in our blues and eventually lie face down on the floor and cry until our nose bleeds. Been there, done that and didn't like it. Choosing joy starts by getting out, reaching out, and living out what we believe. So if you are having a stressful or trying time before this Christmas, go find your joy. For those of you experiencing God's grace and peace at this time. Praise Him! You are blessed. In fact we all are blessed....Christ our savior was born!
Down in a lonely manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent our salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent our salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.
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