Dear you...

Dear you who I miss.

Dear you who I remember.

Dear you who I envision as I write.

 

You were my Grandma.

When I did something (happy or shameful) your arms were there.

Grandma, Mother, Wife, and dear friend, your mere presence a haven.

 

Softly lighting and warming a room with (what my Mum named) your 'secret smile'.

You secretly liked it when Granddad said something soppy. 

Responding with an 'Oh, Ian!' 

 

Ian brought you tea and a song each morning.

Anne, Sue, Bruce, Graeme love and joy. 

So much you gave up your job! Someone had to raise them.

Then it grew to Grandkids. Dan, Bron, Meg, Matt and then family pets Thomas the cat and dogs Dobby, Choo, and Finley. You loved us and were a lifeline for our parents who we drove up the wall.

But, according to the fridge magnet, one of the reasons you have children is so you can have grandchildren, and you spoiled us rotten.  You gave so many fun memories of silly games and songs, books, puzzles, and museum trips and more. Every day with you full of joy for me. 

I was so sad when you left us, I only celebrated Christmas because I remembered that you would have. 

So, I sung and put-up lights where my housemates could enjoy them, thinking of you as I did. Because whatever happens Christ still came into the world knowing he would suffer, die (be separated from his father), and rise again. 

That gives me hope. For you died knowing and believing that you. Because of that we (and other Christians) believe we will get to see each other again because Christ did not come and die for nothing. He died to bring us into God's family.

So, one day I will see you, and Aunty Anne, and Nanna Jo and everyone else who has died knowing and believing in Christ and trusting him, will be as one family.

Now let us rejoice and be glad, even though we mourn, for the shining hope that Christmas brings.

Whatever tomorrow and next year brings let us remember.

"For this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!'

Psalm 118:24 ESV

I miss my Grandma... reader who do you miss? 

Christmas Creates Community

Community is formed in small groups,
all celebrating together.
Christmas community lasts a month.

Community is enhanced during Christmas.
Christians gather to remember that Christ came into the world
to bring them into God's family.

No matter who you are, or why and how you celebrate it.
Christmas creates community.

For Christians the community lasts.
It does not fade when the festivities are over.
For we are celebrating God adopting us into his family,
by sending his son so that we might call him father.
We have accepted his invitation and been welcomed into his home.

Family Christmas

At Christmas time we make a fuss.
Clean, cook, organise, deal with certain
family members, and clean again.
We forget why we do it.
Lose the joy we had as children.
Discover a whole month of stress.

I'm an adult now.
I've uncovered that stress that was
hidden from me as a child.
I disregard the 'Christ' and only think
about the 'mass'.
The mass of things that need to be done.

This Christmas my levels of anxiety
have mounted considerably.
I have been so busy with work,
singing and organising choir
that I've been absent minded
about the person I'm celebrating in song.
Ironic, isn't it?

Christmas is about joy.
As Christians we rejoice as one.
We praise the Lord as we thank him
for sending his son to bring us him.
To show us great mercy and love
in adopting us as his children.

I think the reason the friends and families
gather is to remember that we can be
part of Gods' family...
If we simply are humble,
accepting his grace.

My church family are people
that I'll never tire of spending time with.
Particularly at Christmas.
You see, even though we come from
different backgrounds, cultures, and
life experiences, in Christ we are one.
We are a great forever growing family.
Body and soul.   

I was going to publish this on Christmas day but ran out of time... 

The Gift

At Christmas we receive a gift,
the first, given by God.

Each year we unwrap it anew.
Each year our understanding grows.

It shines brighter as we mature.
It is the extraordinary gift of
God's grace; his one and only son.

As the Christmas rush begins,
pushing us from one stress to
another, we all forget.

We strive to find those perfect
presents for those we hold dear.

And so the gift we are
celebrating slips our minds.

Christmas day is the day to call
off the search.

For he has come, the prince of peace.
Emanuel, God is indeed with us.

The ancient promise has been fulfilled.
So let us rejoice with those we love
because he loved us first.