My First Train Ride

Last Monday we took our two grandchildren on their first train ride. We rode the TRE to downtown Ft. Worth to see her all decked out for Christmas. It was a memorable experience for all of us.

Faith was delighted to find out that she could walk around on the train. For one who does not like to sit still, this was an awesome bonus. Brother Charlie was captivated by all the scenery passing by, and being able to watch the engineer operate the train. You could not wipe the smiles off their faces.

Freddy, the conductor, was truly an angel. He took us under his wing and told us lots of stories. He directed us to some seats at the front of the train so we could have a terrific view of the tracks. He wrote his name and other information including a blessing on one of the train schedules as a souvenir for the kids.
What a gem!

Before we took the grandchildren back home, Faith made sure she had my full attention, and summed the day up with: "Gram, this day is going to be one of my first best memories!" Charlie impressed upon us his interest in going for another train ride soon in the opposite direction to Dallas. Freddy, the conductor, had suggested that to us. I imagine he will not let us forget!

I can tell you, as a parent or grandparent, nothing is better than knowing your children and their children love to spend time with you, and knowing they feel safe and protected in your care. We have been so blessed in these generations to make such wonderful, loving memories together. That is worth more than gold and silver.

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children.
Proverbs 13:22

Angels on High

We took our grandkids, by way of a train, to downtown Ft. Worth last Monday. The walk to Main Street took us by Bass Hall. Its architecture, as you can see, is magnificent.

Any time of the year these angels leave an incredible impression on me. But at Christmas I imagine they are part of the angelic choir trumpeting the good news of great joy that was for all the people:
Today your Savior was born in the town of David.
He is Christ, the Lord. Lk. 2:11

Reflection on Giving

This mirror in my front hall reflects red jingle bells. Somehow a bell ringing at Christmas just gives a feeling of lightness and childlike wonder. As I get mired down in lists, errands, expenses, commitments, the season takes on heaviness and I let those things steal my joy. Actually, I give the joy away as I try to achieve getting things done and checked off my list, and rushing to that perfect holiday.

There was a time in my life that I had to practice saying "NO" in the mirror. I figured if someone asked me to do something then it meant I was supposed to do it. I didn't want to disappoint others, and wanted them to like me, so found myself doing lots of things I didn't enjoy for all sorts of wrong reasons.

I find, especially at Christmas, that unrealistic expectations can get me in lots of trouble. My greatest joy in these last few years has been to give several gifts to people that don't expect one. Sometimes they are even given in ways that the person does not know who was responsible for the gift. The joy of giving something done in secret is its own reward. The funny thing is that it covers up the giver in delight and blessing as much or more than the recipient. It tilts the world system of lists of expensive, expected wants and must haves.

Don't get me wrong...I love giving presents to my family and cooking traditional holiday things for them. But I find myself yearning for simpler times and ways of giving and being together. I have found glimpses through a few practices.

I highly recommend:
1. Giving an unexpected gift to someone God leads you to bless.
2. Giving yourself the gift of a block of time with a friend or loved one.
3. Saying "NO" as a complete sentence in response to something you really do not want to do, and does not bring you joy.

It is very freeing, and you may find yourself, like me, delighting in the childlike wonder of Christmas again.

By Faith

Sometimes I get a photograph that my friends call a "God shot." The interesting thing about going digital is that I see immediately, without having to wait for film, what showed up in the picture. There is evidence of things in the photo that my eye did not see. But there was a call of deep to deep that drove me to take the picture.

What delight when I realized that taking a picture of the wreath on my front door captured a Texas sunset in the glass at the center! The Father of light and life gave me a light show smack dab in the middle of the wreath I hung to honor the babe we celebrate this season.

We received the light when we believed on him, the Word that was with God that became flesh. Those first enthusiastic responses of faith are fired again when He reveals himself in photographs such as this one. When I am stirred by the spirit to shoot some photos, I know by faith that there is something He wants to show me. I have confidence that responding to the nudge of God's will actually stimulates hope and perseverence in me that likewise can encourage others in their faith. I think that pleases God. He is always the proper object of genuine faith, and richly rewards it. He nudges us to seek him; find him. He delights in being found!
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And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

Blue Poinsettia

I am amazed when I see a flower bloom in a new color. I have been drawn to photograph roses that looked black, silver, or lime green; and lately I succumbed to buying a blue poinsettia. I am not sure if it was grown, dyed, sprayed, or just how it arrived at its color. All I know is that I like it. I can tell you by looks that I get not everyone thinks it is pretty. Maybe pretty odd, "silk??"; or nothing spoken at all accompanied by rolling eyes.

I remember reacting negatively to some green catsup a few years ago. Catsup is supposed to be red. Poinsettias are supposed to be red. No wearing white shoes certain times of the year. No mixing gold and silver, although there is a current trend to do exactly that. I guess I use color to illustrate how much we get in the box with certain expectations of how things are supposed to be. We can even become legalistic with color.

I imagine that some of my free spirit is because of the right brain artist thing. But I imagine my mind will be totally blown each time I get to see another dimension of God when I am in heaven. A blue poinsettia will be pretty mundane. I suspect that when we experience something out of this world we may be getting a small spiritual preview of that thing we cannot wrap our minds around, about whom we cannot lean unto our own understanding.
That would be GOD, OUT OF THE BOX.