My Christmas Debacle
I’m at a Christmas Eve party in an unfamiliar home, and I go upstairs to find my daughters to alert them we’re heading home. All the children play a nice, quiet game in a room behind a closed door. I gently open the door, but I don’t know there’s a step to go down into […]
We Have a Problem
My youngest daughter receives magnetic earrings from Grandma to pretend as if those little ears are really pierced. The magnet jewel sits on top of the earlobe, and a powerful magnet backing goes behind her ear to hold the earring in place. In theory, this works. However, we quickly realize that strong magnets latch onto […]
3 Ways to Be a Christmas Blessing
As we gather to see friends and family this weekend, I wonder how we might be a true blessing. I’ve spent too many holidays easily offended, moody, exhausted, irritable, judgmental, and negative. I’ve spent too many holidays thinking of myself and my own needs. Since action flows from belief, I’ve fashioned 3 tips to help […]
Easy Does It (How to Survive the Holidays)
Tonight, we host a Christmas party for graduate students. We’ve learned, after all these years and all sorts of gatherings in our home, that easy does it. Nobody cares if my cabinets have hand prints on them. Nobody cares if I forget to dust the top of the refrigerator. Nobody cares if I don’t have […]
What We Most Want
Finally, at 6:00 AM, we agree to open presents. This is only after the 2:00 AM squeal alert that presents had arrived under the tree. My living room sparkles with shreds of wrapping paper, bows, and tissue paper. By now, the little girls play happily with their new dolls, and I drink coffee–lots and lots […]
Light in the Darkness
In the hustle and bustle of this Christmas Eve day, I pause to think about my electric candles set in every window of our home. Within the core of these candles, the builder placed a photo sensor that automatically responds when the light grows dim outside. As soon as it’s dark enough, the candles light […]
Christmas Disorder (This Place is a Disaster!)
Gingerbread Disaster I’m decorating gingerbread cookies with my 5 year old and her little friend. A blanket of frosting and sprinkles covers the counter tops, and as I observe the smear upon the floors, the walls, and probably the ceiling, I exclaim: “This place is a disaster!” The small child before me, the one shaking […]
Christmas and the Ancient Path
I stay home from church today and cough my way through the morning. But I want to create my own Sabbath worship–to start the week fresh in peace–especially with so much to do to prepare for Christmas. I light candles and gather my Bible and a curious old journal that my students presented me on […]