DONNAMO

This morning as Hubs and I were dressing for church; I had an idea.

"Let's go to Wayne's church today since I don't have to teach Sunday School and we are going to our church tonight for the Cantata."

Our son Wayne is the church pianist at his church in Darlington and we rarely get to hear him play the piano during worship.

When we entered the sanctuary we ran into him, giving out bulletins, and then into Hannah and Cathleen. Hannah was surprised we were there and pleased because she and Cathleen were singing a duet this morning. I tell you that is one of those God Winks we have talked about here before. A time when you just know God was giving you a pleasant experience because He loves us and loves to see us happy.

The girls did a great job and we sat together as a family (Wayne, too) to listen to the sermon. So nice!

Tim Coker, the minister, looks a lot different this Christmas. Last year he had just begun treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and no one was sure what the out come would be. He was bald and very thin. This year he is his handsome, healthy looking self. Somehow all he has been through gives him a bit more credibility than he had 18 months or 2 years ago....BC before cancer.

Today he spoke on the Joy of Christmas. He talked about Luke 2 and The Polar Express. He brought bells for everyone. He decided not to give them out before the sermon because he was afraid the congregation would ring them when they were ready to dismiss to go to Sunday dinner. (We baptists can be mean when it comes to food.)

He said Joy is a good barometer of how we are doing spiritually. I think he is right! My husband has been singing all around the house, in the car, in the yard......I love it (especially because he knows all the wrong words to the songs :) Little Gates can whistle now and he goes around whistling. (I can't whistle the way he does so I go around blowing my bottom lip trying to learn how.)

I think the reason we are joyful at Christmas is because we are thinking about the right things for a change. What to get others. Who might need a visit or a call because they are in a trying situation. What a glum situation Mary and Joseph faced heading into Bethlehem and their lack of complaint.

Remember that old acrostic?

J=Jesus
O=Others
Y= Yourself

If we get those in the right order, we have joy!
Which is what I wish for you this Christmas Season.




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