A Christmas Angel
We all go through difficult times when we feel lost and that there is no hope. I have been through that many times in my life. Occasionally God sends us something that renews our hope and spirit. Something that touches our lives in ways we can never forget. Each year as the holiday season begins, I am always reminded of one of those times when God sent a special gift our way; a Christmas Angel.
It was my sophomore year in high school. My parents had been divorced for five years. Things were difficult for mom as she had two growing kids to feed and clothe with only a small child support check to help out every two weeks. Mom worked two jobs and I was working one day a week to help with the household expenses. But as sometimes happen, that fall several things needed repair and that put mom behind with all the bills.
As the holidays approached, with no knowledge of what was going on, my sister and I began to decorate the house as usual in anticipation of the wonder of the Christmas season. Mom had signed us up to create banners to be hung in church each Sunday in Advent. It was a wonderful family project where the three of us would gather around the dining room table on Saturday night to come up with ideas for a banner to go with the scripture lesson that Sunday.
It was the second week of Advent and we were around the table talking about ideas for that week’s banner. Julia and I noticed something didn’t seem right with the way mom was acting. After about a half an hour of trying to come up with an idea for the banner, mom sat us down and told us that there wasn’t any money for the holidays that year. Things were so bad that we were in danger of having the gas and electric turned off. Mom started to cry and held the both of us for a while. There was a feeling of being lost and alone with no hope for the future that was felt by all three of us.
But mom wouldn’t let that get in the way of us getting the banner for the services the next day. As we began to glue the letter and symbols on to the banner, there was a knock at the front door. It was rather late on a Saturday night, around 10pm or so, so we paused before heading to the door to see who was there. Mom opened the door, but there was no one there only an envelope that was stuck in the screen door with mom’s name on it. Mom walked out on the porch but did not see anyone.
She came back in and sat down at the table staring at the envelope for several minutes. When she finally came to open it, she found $300 inside. There was no note; just cash. We all sat there in silence. God had brought us a gift delivered by an angel. We never found out who the person was or where the money came from. Mom was able to pay the bills and provide us with a nice holiday dinner with the money in the envelope. There were no gift for us that year. But that didn’t matter. We were safe and provided for by God’s spirit and the thoughtfulness of an unknown stranger; a Christmas Angel.
My Grandma’s Bible
The book with the worn cover sat beside her favorite overstuffed rocking recliner in the living room. Picking it up, she would run her long fingers over the curled edges, then flip it open to reveal vibrant colors of yellow and pink along with cursive writing along the sides. I’m referring to my grandma’s bible.
After my grandmother’s death two years ago, this bible was given to my dad. It took him a while to be able to open it to read what my grandmother had written. When he felt strong enough, he ran his long fingers over the same cover, just as my grandma used to do, before he opened. He paused to gather his composure as he saw her “chicken scratch writing” as she used to describe it. Tucked inside were slips of paper in the form of notes that her grandchildren had written when they were little. One such note was written by me as a child.
As my dad carefully turned the pages of his mother’s bible, he found notes along the sides and in the back that she had written about her family. Some were even prayers about her family, pleading with God for His hand of protection and safety over us all.
My grandmother probably never realized the greatest gift she was leaving behind for her family; the gift of her thoughts as she pondered God’s word and highlighted her favorite verses that spoke to her through the years. Now she continues to speak to us through the words she wrote in her bible.
Long before there was even a notion of creating a journaling bible, my grandma created her own. Now that this generation has realized the value of such, they’ve created a place for your notes and thoughts in the form of a journaling bible!
Having just received my very own journaling bible, I’d like to share with you how impressed I was and still am with it!
The bible came in a protective case. Once I carefully slid the bible out of the case, I couldn’t help but run my hand over the cover as it felt almost like suede. It does not have the traditional bible cover. Instead, it looks just like a fancy journal. I opened it and carefully turned the cream colored pages to find two inch margins to write thoughts and prayers of my own! My thoughts immediately turned to my grandma and how she would have LOVED to have a bible like this!
Is there someone in your life that would appreciate a journaling bible? Or, would you like one yourself? If so, please be sure to enter our giveaway below!
A special thank you to Fly-By Productions/Propeller for the opportunity to review this journaling bible.
Faith of Our Fathers
Recently, we settled in for the night with hibachi takeout, popped in the DVD Faith of Our Fathers, and sat back for an enjoyable family night together with our 11 year old daughter. One thing I especially love about these types of movies is that they are Christian movies. You do not have to worry about the content or if anything will be inappropriate for little eyes to see or hear.
This particular story line began with John Paul and Wayne searching for answers to questions they had for years about the fathers they never knew. Sadly, both of their fathers died 25 years before in the jungle of Vietnam.
As the plot thickens, the two young men decide to embark on a journey together to the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC. Along the way, John Paul and Wayne learn about who their fathers really were and what they believed in. They were afforded this opportunity by reading letters their fathers had written years earlier. They became to understand that their fathers both struggled, just as they did. Thankfully, the fathers turned to God for help. A very interesting fact John Paul learned is that his dad wanted to be a preacher. In fact, John Paul actually lead Wayne’s dad to Christ before they both died while serving the Lord and their great country.
Toward the end of the trip, the story unfolds into the young men unexpectedly meeting both their father’s platoon leader who served with them in the war. The story line will keep you on the edge of your seat as you travel along with them on this journey!
We encourage you to see this movie. In fact, here is your chance to enter our giveaway below for your very own copy of Faith of Our Fathers! Be sure to enter, and best of luck to you!
A special thank you to Fly By Productions/Propeller for the opportunity to review this DVD. I was given a copy of the DVD; however, it did not influence my review. The opinions expressed here are our own.
~Dusty, Shirley’s husband.
