Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Christmas (04/25/05)
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TITLE: Christmas Confessions | Previous Challenge Entry
By Antje Hill
05/01/05 -
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One of my favorite times of the season is Christmas night. The tree is bare. Fragments of pretty paper can be seen in tucked away places, pieces missed during the quick clean up of the morning. The family relaxes, vowing to never eat another sweet. The order of the evening is lots of black coffee and some good old fashion reminiscing with our sons. The older they get, the more fun we have. It’s like the further they get from their days of “waywardness”, the more willing they are to confess some of their secrets. This makes for a delightful time, with enough laughter to last for weeks on end.
Not so many Christmases ago, our sons were going back in time, confessing some of the antics they had pulled during their growing up years. Each story was a little more hilarious than the last, some catching me completely by surprise. Nevertheless, we could all laugh, as all is well that ends well. And laugh we did, long into the evening. I was truly savoring the moments of having my sons home once again, within the walls of our home.
As the laughter began to die down, Jason, our middle son, made a surprising statement. “I went to our front door every Christmas to see if Santa brought me the pony I wanted. He never did!”
I was shocked! How had I missed that front door gazing every year?
“Jason, you never mentioned wanting a pony. We never knew. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Why should I tell you and Dad? Santa was my supplier so I told him.” The roar of laughter started again, as we were all reminded of the innocence of childhood. Many times I’ve thought about that Christmas night; the year Jason finally told us Santa blew it every year as far as he was concerned.
Now when I hear the verse, “You do not have, because you do not ask”,* I think of Jason and smile. I think of the times God has had a gift of peace or hope or encouragement for me and I never asked for it. I wonder how many times His arms have been laden with gifts, but I didn’t ask. I am reminded of the old song, What A Friend We Have In Jesus that says, “On, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry every thing to God in prayer.”
After our Christmas stories that year, I determined in my heart I would go to my supplier for the gifts He so willing gives, gifts that make our path easier as we continue our journey home.
*James 4:2 (NKJV)
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