December Treasures

Years ago, no, I'm not telling you how many, but when my kids were little-like in the post below, I made these stockings from a kit. Let me tell you it was difficult, because it was a surprise from Santa and I didn't want them to see the stockings until Santa came on Christmas morn. All moms know what I talking about!

This is NOT a close up, so you can't see the mistakes. But these stockings held more than candy and toys. They held a mother's love, a desire to bring joy, and all the memories of childhood stitched in the fabric. Now each Christmas they give me special joy to pull them out of their Christmas box. A family treasure.

Do you have a special Christmas decoration?

"And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:9, 11

I've often wondered what Mary did with the gifts. The treasures they gave were beyond Mary and Josephs means and station. Did she keep them until His death? Did Jesus ever ask about them?

Treasures mean more than fancy gifts to me. Treasures beyond cost are those loaded with meaning and love. Will you share a treasure?

Photo:karenevans

Doggone It!

Yesterday, on my way to work the cars on the other side of the boulevard were slowing almost to a stop. I frowned and looked to see if an accident had occurred. Nope. Then I spotted a white and tan dog, similar to this one but bigger, dodging cars in this four lane traffic.


Aloud, I said,"Oh nooo." I started to slow, but the cars traveling behind me inched toward my bumper, all headed to work at the 8:30 hour. I continued to look in my rear view mirror until I couldn't see anymore. None of the cars stopped. That scenario tugged at my heart all the way to work.


Why didn't I turn around and stop? I'm a dog lover, and knew this apparently well-cared for dog's people would be hunting him. Well, my boss loves dogs, but may not understand me being late for the patients at his office. And then this fast road is too dangerous to stop on the side, much less try to corral a dog. And last, what if I did all that and the dog was vicious? Those are my excuses.


"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.... Romans 12:6


What other things have tugged at my heart and I refused to follow through? Knowing someone who needs that phone call and I put it off until it was too late, bringing food, or companionship to that person the Lord has put on my heart, helping at church when that tug comes, encouraging a neighbor, or mending fences, and so on. Why do I shove aside those thoughts, like a runaway dog?


Because, I don't want to put out the effort, usually. I don't want to use the gifts and grace the Lord gives me. I don't want to offend or I don't want to get hurt if the situation doesn't work out, and so on.


Did you catch that? My sentences all use the letter "I." No sharing, no caring. The letter "I" is the word of the day. I want to keep all my gifts to myself, the Lord gave them to me and they are mine. Ooops, there's the letter, "M."


Lord, take out the letter "I" from my thoughts and replace with the letter, "O" for others. May I act on the next tug You send.