— Chapter Nine —
Christmas. A time for families. A time for festivities. A time to remember Christ—no matter what.
All my children and their spouses made a special effort to be with me this first Christmas after the separation. What an exciting gift! It was wonderful to wrap my arms around each one as they came through the door. Our reunion was tearful yet joyful. Each of us was dealing with the obvious empty place.
How exciting to have my first grandson, four-month-old Matthew, swaddled in his infant seat. His birth was such a delightful gift. Between his smiles and cooing, this little bundle brought so much joy into this afflicted home. Clanging dishes, big brother’s teasing, laughter, and a small baby’s cries were the sweetest music I’d ever heard! We played table games and talked for hours. They tackled every chore. To keep things moving, Phil suggested a Spatula Award be presented to the couple who planned the best meal at the end of the holiday.
One evening, John, my son-in-law of three months, asked us to pile into the family room for a “tell-me-what-you-think” presentation. He introduced his new idea: “a bit of Scripture along with a bit of chortling” in the form of humorous Christian greeting cards. One by one he held up his newly designed cards.
“Those from Italy send you their greetings…”
Hebrews 13:24 NIV).
“…In fact I gave them your calling card number!
Happy Birthday!”
We doubled over with laughter! They were all hilarious!
“He’s got it!” we unanimously acclaimed. That night it was official. TON (Thinking Outside the Norm) Communication’s -It’s In The BibleTM was birthed.
Loving every minute of our togetherness, I longed to create a memory of this special time. So one night after dinner, knowing that it would be a long time before we would sit around the table like this again, I asked if everyone would share a sacrifice of praise. It had to be a sacrifice, for all of us carried our deep hurt inside. As I listened to each one of them, I was sure God’s heart had been moved by their expressions of gratitude—as was mine.
Then I asked how we might pray for one another during the coming year. With baby Matthew still asleep in his infant seat, we bowed and prayed for each other. Tears of joy filled my eyes—just like God’s, I’m sure.
Phil later drew me aside and whispered assuredly, “Mom, what we did tonight around the table—this is who we are.”
I wished I could have captured this scene and wrapped it up in a box with a great big bow—to open it again and again, never forgetting that sacred time. For there is no gift they could have given me that would have satisfied my heart more than the gift of themselves. There was nothing they could have done that would have made my heart love them more than I already did. I loved them simply because they were mine!
This must be how it is with God. There is nothing I can do to impress Him.25 There is no gift I could give Him that would cause Him to love me more than He already does.26 He loves me simply because I’m His!
Thank You God, for Your gift of love!
Copyright 2001, 2004 Donna Christensen
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Published Online by: The Biblical Reader
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