I was little, somewhere between five and seven I believe, when I was in the first Christmas pageant I remember. I didn't have a part, I was just one of the cute little kids that made all the parents smile. My sisters and I were always dressed in pretty red dresses for Christmas. So I know I was in a red velvet dress and black shoes and white tights. But the rest of the actual program is a blur. The reason I remember is because of my Upstairs Gram. My Upstairs Grandma lived a block away from the church, but because of
her arthritis and other health issues, she wasn't able to come. But she
had asked me to sing loud enough for her to hear.So sing I did. I sang at the top of my lungs. I put so much love and hope into that performance. I wanted her to be there, but since she couldn't I was going to make sure she could at least hear me. Of course the next day the adults were smiling and laughing and relaying the story, and when I asked my Upstairs Gram about it, she told me she heard me. That's one of those Christmas memories you don't forget.
There are other pageants, other memories. Like the year that the program seemed "darker". I don't know who had picked the program that year but it was a heavier program than years past. I think this was closer to age ten. All I remember is my cousin Jeremy's lines. "Darkness, Darkness all around us..." and I believe that that point the lights went out. We were talking about it at church tonight and my Aunt Di said, "Of all the programs to remember it was that one. All I hear is Darkness, Darkness." Something inside me tells me that she was the one who had chosen it. But sometimes its better to not ask at all.
I was the star of David when I was in The Sunrise Singers. It was a Sunday School choir. I was so proud of myself. I don't know what happened but I know there was a malfunction of some sort and I almost didn't get to be the star. Devastation would have reigned down on me if I had missed that.I would be telling you a sad story about my loss, instead of this memory about being the star.
In 35 years I have been in and been to a quarter of a centuries worth of pageants. All of them beautiful in their own way. Tracy Sella said it right today, there is something about hearing the message from children that drives the whole thing home. It makes you believe in miracles. No matter how small.
Many moons ago Alexis and I lived with a man and his kids. I was working 2 jobs and going to school and he had lost another job. I think we were behind on every bill and close to eviction. I was struggling to figure out how to pay the bills and how I was going to get money to get the kids stuff for Christmas. We lived on the second floor of a three story apartment building. One that you have to be buzzed into. I didn't really know my neighbors only that a kind couple lived across the hall from us. One day I came home and as I climbed the stairs I taken aback. Sitting in front of my door there were boxes of food. Mountains of trimmings for a holiday dinner and honestly for at least a month after that. There were gift wrapped presents piled high, all of them labeled according to which child they were for. There was no card, no name, no idea who it was that had done this for me. I stood there and cried. I had ideas, but nothing solid. Only a piece of paper taped to the door saying, "We're sorry we missed you. Merry Christmas."
This year the Cub Scouts decided to adopt the family of one of our boys. He's a good kid. He has always lived with his grandma and this year his mom and his 3 siblings moved in too. He is one of those kids that make you smile when you see him. His grandma works a lot and she is studying Criminal Justice. She does the best she can with whats shes got, but now that there are 4 more mouths in a two bedroom house, she is struggling. The grandma is such a good person. Her heart is too big for her body too. So when we decided to take the food from our food drive and deliver that and presents to the family all I could think about was a Christmas many years ago. I have been given a chance to pay it forward.
Kindness doesn't care about the economy, it doesn't talk about the weather. It comes from with-in us. It comes from cans of food and Christmas presents from strangers. It comes in a warm over stuffed chair for for an old abandoned dog, who would have surely died out in the cold. It comes from people who provide comfort for those in need, like a stable, in December, in a time long long ago. It comes on the voices of angels and children in the message that God has sent to us. Peace on Earth, Good will to all! Glory to the New Born King! Noel, Noel!
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A little Cancun news before we go. I know it seems like I forgot, but I didn't. I have tallied us up to 1870 miles! YAY team. That is so exciting. We are getting ready to walk around the southern tip of the Gulf of Mexico. We are 956 miles away. It's been a long journey, but I am so glad we are doing it.
Now on to our prayer.
Dear God, Thank You for today. Thank You for the wonderful people who are in my life. I am so blessed and I know it would take me an hour to list them all. Thank You for sending us Your son as a gift to all the world. Thank You for loving me. God, at this time I have a few requests. God please be with Beckett. I know she is scared, and I can't say I blame her. Please help her, hold her up when she is weak and comfort her when she is afraid. Please let her results come back favorably. Please also bee with Jenny. I know that she is terrified about her up coming surgery. Help her to find peace of mind. Comfort her and support her. Also God, please be with the family of my Aunt Mary Anne. She came home to You last week, but the people she left behind miss her so. God, please be with those who are alone at this time of year. Help us all to receive Your message and to live with it in our hearts all year round. In Your name we pray. Amen
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