New Years Eve Baby

December 31

Here we are New Years Eve, two sets of anxious grandparents in the visitors room waiting for the arrival of a granddaughter. The baby has been expected since Christmas day but she is on her own schedule. Her mother is exhausted but finally in the maternity ward.

I'm sure this baby will be born before midnight because I had asked God in prayere two days ago if the baby could be born before the end of the year. The response I heard in my head was "yes, but remove that hat from the top of the Christmas tree and replace it with a light." I complied.

Eleven thirty comes and goes. No Baby. Then midnight and still no word. What happened? The message had been so clear. Did I misunderstand God?

At 12:15 the new father opens the waiting room door and announces the baby is here? Everything is fine. I ask when did she arrive?

"At 11:45 " he says apologetically, "I've been busy cleaning her up.

"Therefore know that the Lord your God is faithful and keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love and keep His commandments." (Deuteronomy 7:9)

What if the world ends?

 

December 30

 

“Everything will be fine you’ll see,” his mother said lovingly.

“But suppose the world does end,” the boy insisted, “I won’t ever see you again.”

She assured him, “I’ll see you in Heaven. You will go up from here and your Dad and I from the Civic Center.”

“How will I find you in Heaven? It will be more crowded than the Civic Center.”

She hugged him. “Remember Heaven has pearly gates? Wait for me there. Ok?”

“That’s a deal Mom.”

 

“Mizpah, because he said, ‘May the Lord watch between me and you when we are absent one from another.” (Genesis 31:49)

A Year End Blessing

 

December 27

 

I was catching all the lights green. I zipped across Broadway to the other side to continue my journey when suddenly traffic was coming directly at me. I was heading right for a cab. Breaks squealed and I swerved to the right and he did the same. Both cars came to a screeching halt side by side.

 

A disheveled cabby whispered, "One way buddy." It seemed all of New York was staring at me. Clearly I was at fault. I didn’t know the city to be driving the way I did.

 

"It is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet."
(Proverbs 19:2)

Christmas, the next day

December 26

 

The Christmas wrappings are trash, the stockings are empty and soon it will be time to store the decorations for another year. I admit to a day after Christmas let down. Why can’t we smile some more and wish each other happiness as we did yesterday. I want to linger a little longer to the notion of peace on earth. I want to hold onto Christmas everyday and not go back to ‘normal.’

 

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14)

Wise men listen

December 23

 

The story is familiar. Magi come from the East, following a bright star. "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped him." (Matthew 2:11)

HOUSE! What happened to the stable?

The wise men traveled better than a year to find the new king, who by then was a toddler. The time table also explains when they didn’t return to Jerusalem paranoid Herod orders all children in Bethlehem two years and younger slain. Wise men obey God and act on faith. We should too.

 

"And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod they returned to their country by another route." (Matthew 2:12)

The Real Christmas Spirit

 

December 22

 

The front page of The Hartford Courant has a picture of toll stations on a bridge. Both have green lights but one is empty while the other has a line of cars. The caption explains the commuters are going out of their way to show their appreciation to a friendly toll taker on his last day at work.

That picture shows me I can be God's aroma of love to everyone, no matter what I'm doing or where and not just at Christmas. Isn’t that the best place to be, in His will?

 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
(Colossians 3:23)

Way to find peace this Christmas

 

December 21

 

It is Advent but our nation is at war.

The Priest’s heart is heavy with the killing and by the atrocities men do to other men.

He says he turned on the TV and a woman is asked what she would like most this Christmas. She sings, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."

The Priest says, "I wept. I knew what I had to do and it has to begin with me," We agree, to find peace it starts with us.

 Jesus lived the words of that song, "Let there be peace and let it begin with me."

 "I did not come to judge the world but to save it." (John 12:47)