The real nativity
had anguish
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember
my Favorite Things
and
then I don't feel so bad
On earth as it is in Heaven
I simply remember my
Favorite Things
and then
I don't feel so bad
Romans 8:1-4
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.
By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
On earth as it is in Heaven
Psalm 128
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed,
and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.
5 The Lord bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children's children!
Peace be upon Israel!
This is the Christmas our sons moved to a mountainous state, they mailed Christmas gifts and I reached into the gift to find broken glass in my fingers. Candle Jars in a sack. Instead, we made plans to meet in another city. This was a no show twice before, as we arrived in the next city.
Our house is doing well. New interests and things to do. Busy. Making sure the dogs walk about every day. We are blessed. Not in every direction, obviously. Yet blessed.
Olive shoots around the table.
Life is so many layers.
I called a longtime minister friend, who flat surprised me. Wailing that as their small town had changed generations; they were unhelped, unheeded and unloved. No one to help if the dog needed a sitter, no more help moving heavy objects. Older. Flown children. This knocked me on my rear. They were the un told Mayors of their town. Helping, greeting, being hugged and hugging.
Days come. And days go. And brighter days came again for our friends. Renewal. Redemption - in the same town. We all have wailing days. Remember this in your wailing days. (In fact, the minister friends had an accident injury in midlife, threatening permanent handicap, they went on ministering and this injury was not supposed to be a healing injury. In ten years, one day, the hurt wasn't there, the injury had been loved by the Lord and was fully healed. Good is good!)
My sons are sitting at a table in a mountainous new state, their parents made sure they have today a family table in their new rental. Sitting in a 1950 cottage, like the ones they were born into when we were the young ones. Struggling with vacation time and expenses. Same same. The interest rates are about the same. The prices are not. Wow. They are new in the state and rent instead of our newlywed homeownership.
Is it rude to discuss this? No, in Church Services, Ministers and Pastors say if family is in disrepair. We pray for one another.
Our sons went to colleges where they learned about the new philosophies. Surprise. Yep was. Today I was supposed to learn, told, that I have to adjust to the new ways. I have no doubt, I won't.
I have seen too many generations not fit together. Grandmother Anita, during her convalescence from a year in an iron lung, was to find there were no more, husband, he died, and no more in-laws and no more family farm. Anita did well with her side of the family. Although a lawyer, of her everyday and family life, wouldn't help when she lost employment in old age. Odd when he was retired. Anita, and the family today, tell about her 100-year-old mother having spats with grown children. Life. Anita's mother, Lena, 62 years of grown children lunches together, could always, even at 99-years-old, tell how the cow ate the cabbage. I even have a photo of one of the spats. 70 years ago.
My father's father's family just died out in early age, which they didn't pass on to us.
My brother helped my mother out when she needed his attorney help! My father divorced by packing up when my mother got the job my father suggested. And we didn't see him for another two years, due to... complicated divorce. No drinking and marrying mother's good 25 year friend.
My grandmother Bit, always, always missed her two grandmothers, both parents and 3 other siblings living in a house well run with 2 day employees. Huge Happy Christmases. Love. Bit never knew the extent of her grandfather, JL Wilson owned in Bolivar, County, Mississippi in Rosedale and surrounding. My father, who moved out, moved out on his mother too. Hard for her, as he was her only child. She continued to help and be loving, he accepted all and was cold. His father didn't like his own mother, either. Moved out when she moved into my father's boyhood home for 3 years in old age. When my great grandmother died, my grandfather returned home.
How I miss Reverend Wm Tate, Grandmother Bit's 2nd husband. Joy. Anita was always polite. Indeed, she just gave up caring my father didn't like his mother-in-law. He was someone she was polite to in a caring manner and moved on past their brief conversations. She did not weep, was not insincere, when her only child, my mother and my father divorced, and didn't backstab my father.
This is our first Christmas without parents or children as empty nesters. I'm not thrilled, but I have some ideas for the planning past this. It wasn't a great day. Out of a lifetime of fabulous Christmas planned year round. This one wasn't my favorite day for the last 7 years.
Edward's side has squabbles too. His family has this generation and a generation 2 back with squabbles.
Generations.
Today,
Edward and I decided not to complain so much. I decided to be more merciful. Which I did about 90% of the day. Funny how mercy seems to be something we need all 100% of the time. Hope the ten percent is just the learning curve!!! Pray for me, brothers and sisters!
One thing I know from watching my grandmothers and our minister friend. Life changes in ways we don't imagine. Sometimes you end up with sunnier, more loving days. Others aren't so warm. God is in charge.
One son likes hiking, he says he isn't going to hike alone anymore due to wolves. I said you mean Pandemic Wolves. That too. All things work together for good, for those who love the Lord and work according to His purposes.
We have to see this time as Pandemic Recovery. I intend to pick my mood back up and go forth with Jesus. I've seen lives change for people in their 90s. I'm going to believe God is working and wait there.
Abba, Father,
This is our day to say
Thank You, Abba, Father,
for Jesus.
Thank You, His birth
is Your trust and love for
the Light shining in mankind.
In all our seasons,
we trust in You.
I've lost 3 sunglasses, 2 blouses,
brown Root Stimulator gallon, I didn't buy, spill over Christmas gifts,
it did not have a top.
This week.
We pray for peace.
And recovery.
Renewal.
Heart.
Love.
Kindness.
Mercy for the merciful.
Jesus has arrived from His Father's Kingdom
To live Joy.
Help us recover our Joy
see our Blessings
and be merciful.
Fill Your Good Creation
with positive, open hearts,
end the great cold.
We lift up
Love
Joy
Hope
and Peace
and put Jesus,
His Highest Name
upon all of us
looking to Jesus.
Abba, sending us His own Son.
Thank You, Jesus.
Amen.
We Pray for Merry Christmas
across the Nation
and Believing World.
The Light of Christ Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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