...a word from Kathy

“It’s happened,” a friend of mine told me over coffee this week.   “I hate Christmas,” she said. Oh, she’s not a scrooge, in fact she may be one of the most Christ-living-following women I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.   And I’m not a scrooge; in fact I adore the gift giving and the Christmas happenings.   However, the parties, the food, the goings and comings, the lights, the lists, the presents and the wrappings of Christmas have taken over my mind this week.   I knew it would be a tough fight this year and I knew I was weak but I was hopeful.   I was hopeful that I would remember and focus on the real truth of Christmas – the birth of God into this human world.   But the power and trappings of this retail-frenzy we somehow call “Christmas” overtook me.   So when my friend whispered these unusual words, “I hate Christmas”, my heart heard and I was jolted. As Jesus and h...

" A nd there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.   This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12 Life is a grind.   I say this in a very positive way but it is a grind.   The shepherds were in a grind, too.   Day after day tending sheep, caring for family, making ends meet.   Many of us get up in the early morning, exercise, read the paper, shower, dress, drive to work or stay home to work.   At work, we are focused on the goals of our employers and that requires our full concentration and effort for the day.   After a required...

T he line to visit with Santa was long.   It stretched and curved and jigged and jagged all the while children ran to and fro, moms stressed, babies cried…it’s Christmas.   I looked at some of the children closest to Santa.   Some were too old to still really believe in Santa Claus, some too young to even know their whereabouts but there was one.   One little girl in her beautifully smocked Christmas dress stood gazing at Santa.   She held her mama’s hand and had her stuffed animal firmly grasped in the other.   Her eyes held wonder, perhaps a little fear but definitely intrigue, yes-even mystery.   She believed.   Her eyes held wonder. I walked away from that scene with a smile.   How precious!   Additionally, I was visiting with a friend last night and she shared that her grand daughter would be with them on Christmas morning.   I found myself thinking, “Oh, how wonderful that you’ll get to experience...