Dec. 20 – Merry Christmas (almost)! This is a quick note of gratitude to everyone for their love and support since that first longgggg post. One day last week stood out in particular because God’s providence was on display so clearly to me. One friend surprised us with a huge box of Cheerios – so sincerely sweet and thoughtful. (Just that morning at a doctor’s appointment I had asked Kevin what kind of cereal he wanted for the week and he had answered Cheerios. Bingo!) By the way, I dedicate the title of this post to that friend in case she becomes an ongoing blog reader. (Ha, ha, ha). On that same day, another friend dropped off Christmas treats and Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuit mix. This was particularly thoughtful because she remembered my stopping in my tracks months ago when I saw a box of this cheesy garlic perfection during a real estate home tour, and it looked soooo good that I kept staring at it. So observant and attentive! And finally, on the same day, a third friend dropped off some of the best beef veggie soup I’ve ever tasted. My follow-up inquiry revealed it was from a country club. Now I know why people join country clubs!!! Duh, follow the food. It’s almost always about the food! These three unrelated, wonderfully straight-forward, lovingly spontaneous acts made me think of when the Lord led the Israelites during their travels in the desert. It’s Exodus 16. He gave them food for each day and at the end of each day it rotted away. They could not store it for the next day. He was teaching them to walk in daily dependence on Him and to trust in His provisions – not their plans. He knew what they needed and when they needed it.
I also thought of the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” And of course, right before that it says, “Your Kingdom come, your Will be done – on earth as it is in heaven.” Love that. Owning it and feeling joy about it. Thank you to sweet friends who are the hands and feet – and together – ended up providing for us from morning to noon to night without even realizing they were each part of a bigger blessing to us.
I also wanted to share some ideas for last-minute stocking stuffers if you need them. Books I read prior to our pregnancy that, in hindsight, proved really helpful and timely: The Bible, via a Read-the-Bible-in-90-days app on my phone and Kindle; One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp; A Praying Life by Paul Miller; The Reason for God by Tim Keller; and Hoping For Something Better by Nancy Guthrie. These books are GREAT. Then, after our Nov. 6 baby news, I was given and highly recommend: The Red Sea Rules by Robert Morgan, The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt, and Hearing Jesus Speak into your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie. I listed them in order of awesomeness, to me, at least.
I leave you with the lyrics to my all-time favorite Christmas hymn. Let the simple words sink in. Find your rest in the only source of true peace and love. Merry Christmas!!!
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and JOY!
Comfort and JOY!
O tidings of comfort and JOY!
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