December 20
“A Happy Holiday Menu,” by Shanda Johnson
Christmastime has always been a season of sharing in my family. When I was young we had a large family that would gather and exchange gifts and share food and enjoy catching up on recent events that had occurred in each of our lives.
There were grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, seven cousins, mom, dad and me. My mother enjoyed having Christmas dinner at our house. So for a week in advance we cleaned and decorated and soon the smell of Christmas took over our senses. How great it would be to go back home for the holidays and see and share with everyone in my early family. When my daddy passed in March I lost the last link to what used to be. All the cousins gathered for the funeral. We talked about what used to be before we married, left home and lost contact.
I have come to realize that God gives us opportunities to become part of and participate in the family of Christ which is so much bigger and better than my family unit to which I want to go back. The rewards of knowing Jesus and being part of his family are every day in every way there for the taking. I look forward to each gathering with God’s people.
The following is from a Christmas card I received many years ago and choose to read annually:
A HAPPY HOLIDAY MENU
HAPPY HOLIDAY FARE
Served with freshly made Best Wishes
Appetizer of Happiness
Hearts of Gladness*Thick Slices of Joy
Generous Portions of Cheer*Warm Friendships
Casserole of Kindness*Soufflé of Laughter
Good Times to Relish*Assorted Pleasures
Well-seasoned Delights*Sparkling Merriment
Combination Good Health and Good Fortune
Sweet Memories
Thank You, God, for sending Jesus to show us the way.
