You've Got to Give It Away

"He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, God’s and mine.

And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away. They’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light." (From a poem by an unknown author in my first blog entry, "The Bike Ride" )

Six years ago I became a single parent...on paper that is.  Two years prior, I realized my marriage was failing. For a while, all I could do was sit on the couch in my pajamas and stare, trying to figure out if I knew how to clean the house.  Although I joke a lot when I write, I'm being serious when I say that I couldn't figure out how to do the smallest chore. 

Several people stand out in my mind as rocks who gave me something to hold onto so as to keep me from drowning in that horrible, downward spiral that seemed so dark.  My pastor's wife, Debi, recognized my hurt and sadness and shared so many words of wisdom with me that I call to mind today.  My neighbors, Scott and Kelly, were my coaches.  Both my pastor's wife and my neighbors never hesitated to offer me gifts of healing, acceptance and joy.  Sometimes, they were in the form of words, sometimes tears, many times a hug and even though it was hard to come by, there was laughter. While now my neighbors are someone else's neighbors, every time I see them, I am blessed by their generous offerings of the same gifts, only now, there's a whole lot more laughter.

Going to work full-time was a challenge, because I had been at home being mommy for several years.  I had to brush off the bubbles and baby powder and jump back in to e-mails and earning a paycheck.  I was hired full-time in November and Aurie came to work in January.  She quickly became like a sister to me.  She, herself, had plenty of wisdom to share with me...many times it began, and still begins, with "My mama always said..."  God knew exactly what He was doing.  She offered me gifts of healing, acceptance and joy.  She never hesitates to share those gifts with me today. 

I am often amazed at the way God presents me with someone who needs me to share those same gifts with them.  I've been at gymnastics, at the community pool, at church, at work, at school, at the grocery store, and many, many other places, along with phone calls, when many times someone who barely knows me will share their story with me.  While often times I can't imagine why they would be coming to me, when it's all said and done, I realize it's that I've been given special gifts... of healing, acceptance and joy...and it's simply my turn and how could I hesitate to give them away...they are "extra baggage, too much weight.  I find in giving, I receive, and still, our burden is light." 

"And when I'm sure I can't do it any more, He just smiles and says, 'Pedal.'"

Snakes and Elves and Santa Claus' Tale...

In the past few years I have made it a habit to decorate for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. This year, my intentions were the same, however, it just didn't happen. So, the girls were gone to their dad's last weekend and on Friday night, I decided to get everything out and begin. I would put up the tree and the girls would decorate when they got home on Sunday night. Of course, there were more things to do than just the tree, like decorating the mailbox, putting the lights on the shrubbery and putting other decorations in their place. All of my plans came to an abrupt halt, because evidently, I have had a very special (yes, I'm being sarcastic), unwelcome Christmas guest in the garage storage closet...a snake. I'm going to spare you the details of how I discovered this varmint. I will tell you, however, that I pulled the Christmas tree box out into the garage, left the light on (as if the critter needed it)and ran inside for my life. I was the lunatic in the 'ville the next morning pushing the box over and chasing the sections of the tree down my hilly driveway giving the snake one last chance to escape...THANK GOODNESS the snake wasn't in the box, in the tree or still around...COILED around anything

My girls, 10 and 8, had not been introduced to the "Christmas Elf" tradition until last year...which, at the same time, I lost what little sanity I had remaining. Our elves, Buddy and Rosie, will now arrive around December 1 every year and go home with Santa on his sleigh on Christmas Eve. In the meantime, they wreak havoc in our home...as if we didn't already have that. Those elves are the most mischievous little creatures I've ever met! Some of their shenanigans take me a while to clean up...like rolling the living room, making "snow angels" in the sugar, and drinking syrup and eating marshmallows leaving a trail all over the kitchen! I've been threatening to send them back early (because their helper is getting tired - wink, wink). Although, when I say I'm sending them back early, I see my youngest tear up because she LOVES this daily mystery of waking up to see what they've done. So, I suck it up and begin planning the next adventure.

Santa Claus. Yes, I have a 5th grader and a 3rd grader. They've heard at school that "Santa Claus isn't real." However, there's something about the sparkle I see in their eyes when they ask me if that's the truth and I ask,"What do you think?" I'm not sure if the sparkle is because it gives them something to add to their imagination, if they think I'm lying or if they think maybe I still believe and they don't want to ruin it for me.

At any rate, the conversation ends, both girls giggle and they play along with me. Last Sunday the girls were part of their children's choir Christmas presentations. They stood so boldly and sang their hearts out about peace, love, joy and adoration...of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Last week, I attended a Christmas Chapel service that stirred my heart and reminded me that in ALL circumstances - pain, hurt, loss, joy, love, and the list goes on - He is Emmanuel - God with us. Last night I got to sing with the church choir and orchestra in our Christmas presentation. Different choir members sang unforgettable lyrics that will ring in my ears for a very long time..."it's still a mystery to me, that the hands of God could be so small, how tiny fingers reaching in the night were the very hands that measured the sky." "Oh, I believe and I will always sing, this little child, is THE KING!" Finally, "Baby Jesus, do you know you'll die for all our sins...don't be afraid 'cause in three days...YOU WILL RISE AGAIN! Oh, HALLELUJAH! The KING is here!"

My girls love the decorations (a snake not so much), laugh about the elves, question the reality of Santa Claus, and all of those things put that innocent sparkle in their eyes. For those trivial happenings of Christmas, I have no good, solid answer. However, when we talk about Jesus, all of our eyes light up with hope, we KNOW He lives in our hearts and we all know that Christmas is about God sending His only Son to be the Savior of the world.

Snakes and Elves and Santa Claus' Tale...that's NOT what Christmas is made of! :)