Christmas is to be a holiday of togetherness and rejoicing.  Mine is turning out to be more tiring than anything else.  It's my job to keep the house together before any relatives begin to arrive.  Who knew that using a mop could be a religious experience?  Our new addition of a puppy does not make life easier that way.  She seems intent on leaving her mark around the house when inside.  The good news is our floors are cleaner than ever.  The bad news is cleaning will be a constant.  Tomorrow is the last big trip to buy groceries.  There is little doubt that we will have more than enough to eat.  My son and I made one trip on Monday that resulted in a full cart.  Odds are good that tomorrow will see the same sight upon leaving the store.

No one came to church this evening.  I was not surprised at all by this.  Nor should you read any disappointment in that statement.  People get very busy these last few days before Christmas.  There are two types of houses in our area tonight.  The first house is empty as everyone is on the road to celebrate the big day.  The other house is buzzing with last minute preparations.  I took some time to go through my desk to find out what may be hidden there.  Imagine my reaction upon finding quite a few cards to me collected over the last year or so.  Many of them were sent to me during my illness and treatment.  Some of the cards went further back to many years gone by.  A few arrived immediately following a funeral or other crisis.  Some came out of the blue for whatever reason.  Going back to read the thoughts of others can be sobering.  You can only hope that your efforts truly matched the sentiments written.  There is also a sense of being grateful for God's goodness in the worst of experiences. 

Dwelling on the past is a dangerous habit.  We easily become blinded to both the present and the future around us.  There are other occasions when looking backward sheds some light on what really matters.  People matter in the long run.  Relationships make all of the difference in the world.  Better to be shaped by others than locked into an occupation.  Part of the holidays is about the key role our relations play in making us who we become.  Jobs and other peripheral issues can limit our growth as human beings.  We can become the sum total of what we do.  Someone once wrote that God doesn't make human doings but human beings.  Never forget that small comment.  Refuse to be forced into a life without divine purpose.  Know that God's will changes who you are first and then affects what you do.  The peace of this season includes God being active in shaping our character.  Discover this gift so you can enjoy everything else God does in you and through you.

Bro. Trey