Remembering Christmas Past

I grow nostalgic this time of year; perhaps it's because my birthday is in December. I like to think that time stands still sometimes; sometimes it does in my mind.

One of my fondest childhood memories was the year I turned six. I got two wonderful surprises that Christmas – and learned a valuable lesson. My birthday is a couple of weeks before Christmas, and that year Dad made a cradle for my dollies! I was also excited because I was in my first Christmas program at school. The first graders were going to sing Away In A Manger.
Christmastime was a time of change for our little school room. Each class was assigned an area to decorate for the Christmas program. The first and second graders made red and green chains from construction paper to hang around the room, while the older children made ropes of popcorn and cranberries to weave through the branches of the Christmas tree. But, there was a problem with the manger scene; there wasn’t a place to lay Baby Jesus. Our teacher was good at making do with whatever was on hand, but what were we going to use for baby Jesus to lie in while we first graders gathered around and sang to Him?
“Well, I suppose we’ll have to use a box, and put straw in it,” Mrs. Nell said.
“Maybe we won’t have to,” my sister blurted out. “Dad made a cradle for Jane’s birthday. Maybe she’ll let us have it.”
Suddenly I burst into tears and ran out of the room. Oh no! They want to take my birthday present. “I don’t want to be in your old program,” I yelled as I ran for home.
The telltale signs of crying was all over my face as I came in the door and headed to my room bypassing Mom and Dad’s questioning looks. I knew I couldn’t stay in there all night. I had to come out for dinner. I could say my head hurt, but that would be a lie. I knew I’d get in trouble for running out of school, but I had just gotten my little cradle. I had barely played with it; how could they take it away from me.
Just then my sister came home from school. I listened at the crack in the door as she told Mom and Dad what happened.
“You should have seen Jane at the practice, Dad, she ruined the whole program. Just because she didn’t want to let us use her new cradle. I told Mrs. Nell it would be better than a box with straw in it.”
There! It was out. Now I’d really get it. I decided I might as well go into the kitchen and get it over with. When Dad saw me quietly sneaking around the corner, he caught hold of my arm and gently pulled me onto his lap and held me tight. I started crying again.
“Now, there, there,” he said taking a big red handkerchief from his overalls and wiping the tears away. “It’s not what you think. Mrs. Nell doesn’t want to take your cradle away from you – she just wants you to loan it to Baby Jesus for the song.”
Then he told me that wonderful story of long ago.
“You know when Baby Jesus was born he didn’t have a little bed to sleep in - his parents were poor and there was no room for them anywhere in Bethlehem, except a stable. He was born where they kept cows and donkeys. So, they had to make do. They wrapped him up in cloths and laid him in the manger.”
I knew what that meant. We lived on a farm and had a barn. We kept the cows and horses there and sometimes it didn’t smell nice, and at Christmastime it was cold! I had watched Dad put hay in the mangers for our cows to eat. I thought about the nice warm bed I slept in every night and the smell of bread and cookies baking in the kitchen. Baby Jesus didn’t have that when He was born.
Dad continued the story, “And God sent angels to tell some shepherds out on the hillside that His Son had been born that night and to go find the baby. He gave them a star to follow and told them to look for a baby wrapped in cloths, laying in a manger. You see, that manger was a special sign to the shepherds; they would know which baby son was God’s, because no other baby in Bethlehem was laying in a manger that night - only Baby Jesus!”
Suddenly I felt ashamed because I hadn’t wanted to share. I had been selfish. I knew Baby Jesus was God’s gift to the world and He came to earth because He loved all of us so much. I wanted to show Jesus I was sorry about the way I acted and that I really loved Him too.
My six year old heart was repentant. “Daddy, I’m sorry. I guess I forgot what Christmas really means. Do you think Mrs. Nell will still let me be in the program? I want to give my cradle to Baby Jesus.”
Dad smiled broadly as he hugged me tight. “Well, you just tell her what you told me and I’m sure she’ll want you back!”
My heart overflowed with warm feelings that I didn’t wholly understand as we first graders gathered around and burst into song, Away in a manger, no crib for a bed because there lay baby Jesus wrapped in a blanket, warm and snug - in my little cradle/manger. Every Christmas when I hear Away in a Manger - I remember the Christmas I learned it’s true meaning!

Luke 6:30 Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it, and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.

Whom Should I Seek to Please?

The story is told of a painter who desired to produce one work that would please the entire world. She drew a picture which required her utmost skill and took it to the public marketplace. She posted directions at the bottom of the piece for spectators to mark with a brush each portion of the picture that didn't meet their approval. The spectators came and, in general, applauded the work. But each, eager to make a personal critique, marked a small portion of the picture. By evening, the painter was mortified to find the entire picture had become a blot.
The next day the painter returned with a copy of the first picture. This time she asked the spectators to mark the portions of the work they admired. The spectators again complied. When the artist returned several hours later, she found every stroke that had been panned the day before had received praise by this day's critics.
The artist concluded, "I now believe the best way to please one-half of the world is not to mind what the other says."
People will always have an opinion about what we say or do. That is why we live our lives according to the words of the Bible - God's opinion. Then we will not fret over the opinion of others.
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

I strive to keep this ever before me as a goal to achieve. Pleasing Him will be my success.

Jane's Recipe Box

My Favorite Biscuit Recipe



1 pkg Active Dry Yeast

3 Tbsp. warm water (105 F)

6 cups all purpose & unbleached flour

1/4 cup sugar

5 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup vegetable shortening

2 cups buttermilk - room temperature



Preheat oven to 400 F. Mix yeast and water and set aside. Mix all dry ingredients together and cut in shortening until mixture is like coarse crumbs. Mix buttermilk with yeast mixture and stir into dry ingredients.

Turn out on floured board and knead a few times. Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut biscuits and place on greased baking sheet.

Bake 15 - 18 minutes. Yield: 3 dozen biscuits.

Loving Lavishly

I love celebrating birthdays in our family. We have a tradition: to make that person feel very special. I cook their favorite foods, make a wonderful dessert, get a special gift and then watch as the whole family gathers to celebrate! Their eyes twinkle in anticipation. They have an extra bounce in their step. Their whole attitude is a little different because it is their day. A very special day. The day they were born - and into our family! Our special family; a place of love and acceptance. A place where they know they are welcome anytime. When they are up, riding the crest of success, or down, feeling depressed and downtrodden.
I believe that is how our Heavenly Father treats His children too! His word says “While we were yet sinners”, not much good for anything really, He sent Jesus, His only Son to die for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (TLB) Wow! What lavish love the Father demonstrated to us. We are his creation and He loves us; with extreme love, generous love, lavish love!
If you want to see a grandmother giddy with extreme love just ask me about my grandsons! They are definitely the “apple of my eye.” I love taking them for a few hours and just hangin’ out. A favorite place for a six year old and three year old is, of course, McDonalds Play Area. They run and squeal and slide and bounce to their hearts content. Showing off their special skill crawling through the tunnel and coming down the slide, they yell at me to watch them and wave as they go by, happy as clams! I adore David Michael’s chocolate-brown eyes twinkling with mischief, and Benjamin, with his cherub face and bright blue eyes, how can I resist them? I just look at those two and melt with extreme and lavish love. Because they’re mine! They come from me - or an extension of me anyway! I wonder if that is how God feels when He looks down on us, His creation, His workmanship? His word says in Psalms 139 that “we are marvelously and wonderfully made.” He must be proud of his own workmanship, don’t you think? For He says “But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.” Exodus 20:6 (TLB)
And I ask,“Father do I love you to extreme? Would I rather spend time with you than anything else on earth? Do I take the time to tell you and show you by my actions how much I love you? Do I really love you “with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength” as you desire? Do I love you lavishly - as you love me?”
I want to Lord! Help me to follow your example of loving and give it all I’ve got! Loving lavishly - You, my Heavenly Father; my family, those who bring me so much joy and pleasure; friends, the wonderful people you have put into my everyday life to help and encourage me along the way, and myself too. Help me to appreciate who I am in You. Your child who is welcome at your table anytime. A child of the King! Someone of worth to You because I belong to your family, the family of God!