JOY TO THE WORLD

In Tucson, you really never know for sure what the weather will be like for Christmas.  One Christmas Eve, many years ago, it snowed after we all went to bed.  When we awoke, Jim and I were blessed to be able to share snow with our children.  We even made a snowman. Yesterday, I think it was almost 80 degrees outside!  I have my sweaters neatly folded.  I have even worn one or two for a few hours. 

But where Jim and I grew up, you could count on snow for Christmas. I recall having to lift my feet way up high to walk down the sidewalk in someone else's footsteps, knee deep in the snow.   And snow made Christmas so magical!  Buffalo, New York is famous for snowy winters and some of our fondest memories are of making forts, breaking huge icicles off the eves of houses, snowball fights, sledding down the middle of our street, or sneaking under the chain link fence around the domed water tower to climb and sled, climb and sled, over and over until our feet were numb and our cheeks were red. going inside periodically for cookies and hot cocoa.  

This Christmas season has been special to me.  I am uncharacteristically calm in spite of the many things I have to do at home and at work that I am not getting to yet.  I watched precious Vanessa become a nurse; kissed the soft cheeks of my mother and father; decorated our (fake) tree with joyful Emily; posed for photos with handsome Jim -- our Rachel behind the camera smirking at our jokes; played all day with our 4 grandchildren; was entrusted with Isabel's first haircut ; spent $115 and saved $113 coupon shopping with Kelly one day and  helped plant in her lovely yard the next. 

(Today I whispered to God that it really isn't fair that I get to have so much joy and love in my life -- " but can I keep doing this, Lord.?..this is what I love...")

"Thank you, Father for all these people and their various extensions, for the beautiful friends and faithful customers you have provided.  And thank you for sending your Son to the cold world to warm it with love"

Maybe it is my old eyes putting it all together like a batch of sugary Christmas cookies, but this holiday I see God's love everywhere, even in the plastic trees, the plastic lights, the stores displaying the wares that bring salaries to the people working there.   His love and peace surround us like the deep snow that blankets Buffalo.    Bare trees and sleepy, scrubby desert both promise to awake in spring  The joy of his coming reflects in even the poorly decorated yard.  He loves us! He gives us good things, undeserved goodness. 

 Winter, Christmas, love snow, gifts, lights, carols...Jesus...  JOY TO THE WORLD !

Oh, and just as I finished this post, it started to rain and the tinted leaves began to blow off my Pistachio tree.  If I squint, it sorta looks like snow!