What a difference a year makes! It was one year ago last Monday that our daughter began her painful ordeal that significantly changed her life. That was also the same day that my sister called to tell me that mom was close to the end of her life. Torn between my role as a father or as a son I felt that I had to get up to my mom since Ingrid was on her way to meet our daughter. That week and the months that followed are thankfully in the past and now we are poised to move into 2008.
Our daughter is now joyfully married, although she lives too far away to suit us, but we wouldn’t trade her happiness for anything. We still miss mom. In fact many times I miss her more now than in the weeks immediately after her passing, but we are so thankful that she is not enduring the dementia she suffered for so many months. And so, life goes on. We have pain and joy, laughter and tears, but one thing we know is that the best is yet to come.
When Christ comes again the pain of last year and all the years will be forgotten and will never be repeated. Finally there will actually be peace on earth and good will toward all men. In the meantime we have the privileged commission to tell those we meet that the Babe of Bethlehem is a gift for all people for all time. We have an opportunity to invite our friends to a marvelous program for next Friday night and/or Sabbath morning. The choir and orchestra have been working so hard and they have put together a marvelous concert once again. You’ll never have an easier chance to draw them to our church. Who knows, May they’ll want to come back?
I’m sorry about the false lead in last week’s VIP inviting you to send a card to a recovering soldier. I usually check those out, but I never thought of that being a hoax. It was, however, a great idea! There are many other ways that you can do something unique and special this Christmas season. A donation to ADRA is always a good way to help others in need. There are many other agencies that do great work. I have always been a fan of the Make A Wish Foundation. I also just heard of Build A Miracle, which builds houses for homeless families in South and Central America. You can check them out at buildamiracle.com. In short, there are far more needs and opportunities than we can ever help with. Just don’t let Christmas go by without building a memory.
On a similar note I would earnestly encourage you to make a visit and take some goodies to those who are homebound or in nursing homes. Check with Sandy if you need a name.
Hanna would like to thank the whole church family for their thoughtfulness and caring during the past couple of weeks following her surgery. She is doing so well and we are all thankful for God’s strengthening powers. Thank you for your cards, calls, and most of all, for your prayers.
Please remember that Napa Christian will be sharing an afternoon of Christmas music here in our sanctuary today at 4:00. Not only is it an opportunity to invite friends who enjoy good music, but it is a chance to show support for our own school and for the teachers and students who have worked so hard. I was very pleased to see the church so full last week for the school’s Christmas program that featured all of the grades. This afternoon’s program will feature the high school students.
Continue to keep Barbara Hutchinson in your prayers in a special way. She is getting weaker, but her courage is strong and she still has her sense of humor. Her daughters are all here with her over the Christmas season and I know that will be a blessing to her, but she does need and appreciate your prayers.
As I am fretting over the busyness of this time of year again I am realizing how things don’t look to dull already for next year. I have weddings scheduled for June, August, and October and a number of other appointments on the calendar. If you are planning on getting married, you better let me know soon! I’m sure there will be a couple of trips to see the kids and grandkids on the east coast and who knows what else God has on His agenda? But life is good and we are blessed beyond measure. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
I was deeply saddened by the tragic news of last Sunday out of Colorado Springs. What a sad statement on the times in which we live that it is necessary to have armed security guards in churches and that there are individuals who are out of control and with weapons who will go into a church and open fire. I guess it points out the fact that the only true sanctuary is in Christ. My thoughts and prayers have been with the families that have been involved often this week.
Now, it’s only ten days until Christmas, so take some time to make a difference in somebody’s Christmas who needs some TLC. Get out and enjoy some of the decorations and special events of the season. And don’t forget to have some hot chocolate, or cider, or even a glass of eggnog along with a couple of cookies. It will do your heart good. And for certain, remember to keep an eye out for some mistletoe! That will do your heart good as well.
