Sweet Yoselin's Heart

I love Christmas! Everything about it makes my heart smile!

Today is very Christmasy! There is a beautiful snow falling! The big chunk like flakes that are soooo fun to watch! My lights are on in the house, there are Christmas carols on the radio and my hot green tea makes it complete! I feel like I should be wearing a happy red dress and whipping up some cookies or something! Today is a great day!

I was thinking today about what would be the perfect gift for me ..... and I am resigned to the fact that that gift is the same every year! That I could light up my house, so the Lord could see it in heaven - I know He does, but I mean literally!!! And that my husband, my boys and everyone celebrating this beautiful Holy Day would wake up Christmas morning and find God's abundance stuffed around a picturesque Christmas tree in packages wrapped in bright paper with shiny bows, and that the flurry of flying gift wrap that followed would reach to the heavens. You see, I believe that God smiles when we make a big deal about of Christ's birth! When I get to heaven to be with Him, I just can't imagine Him giving me a talking to about OVER celebrating Jesus' birth!!!! See ..... I'm not really that sure Christians should be minimizing and scaling back at Christmas time! I think this is one of the two times a year we should show up HUGE!!!! (The other being Easter, of course) I mean ... I understand the current rage to move to Happy Holidays and all ... but God's truth is that we celebrate this month SOLELY (SOULLY) because of Immanuel - People .... IMMANUEL .... literally translated "GOD WITH US"!!!!!! Give me a better reason to celebrate!!!! (Other than Easter, of course)

For me ..... that would make a perfect Christmas Season every year --- fabulous light displays to amaze my children and everyone else who could see them and giving and gifting to everyone around me. There are many things I would like to receive, but I am in need of nothing. God gifts me daily!

Yep! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! I even love the Ebenezzars and Scrooges who come out of the wood work this time of year! All of those people who are rude beyond any resemblance of Christmas Spirit making sure they have the first, best and biggest gifts available, so no one else can. All they really need is to know somebody loves them and appreciates what they do. That's all! And a genuine Christmas smile can go a long way here!

In addition to everything else I hold so passionately close to my heart this time of year, my love and admiration for the SALVATION Army knows no limit. I don't even have to see them ... the second I step out of my vehicle in a parking lot and hear the bells ringing ..... my heart smiles, because I know without a doubt God is on the scene!!!! I love it!!! And I try to hit the red bucket every time I walk passed, so they know what they do is appreciated!!! It makes me sad when I see folks walk passed them with a disgusted look on their faces. I understand if you have no change to drop in the bucket, but I have actually seen folks walk passed and roll their eyes or look down their noses at them. Just sad! I pray for these folks, because they need it more than the people who just don't have any change to give! Of all the things they do, where the SALVATION Army really grips my heart is their Angel Trees!!

Every year I look forward to this blessing! This year was no different! My point isn't about the fact that "I" did anything. The Bible says in Luke 17:10 Even so on your part, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, We are unworthy servants [possessing no merit, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have [merely] done what was our duty to do. (Amplified) And, I believe it is our responsibility to do for others when they can't do for themselves. In addition, I believe there is no place for me to talk about what I've done, because I believe it takes the focus from God and brings it toward myself ..... so, the heart of this story is Sweet Yoselin's Heart!!!

Angel Code #818 specifically! Deuteronomy 8:18 says But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. (KJV) In addition to others, this a cornerstone verse in my life. It didn't matter who was on the card, I knew it was there for me to cover. As it turns out, it was sweet Yoselin!

A beautiful little three year old girl! And there on the card were the clothes sizes, coat size, shoe size ... all the necessities. And my favorite part at the bottom ... the things that Christmas wishes are made of ..... coloring books with crayons, puzzles, a 12" bike and a play kitchen!!! HOW BEAUTIFUL!!! Can't you just see her making play tea and having parties or flurrying down the street on a little pink bike with a crazy bell?!!!! SMILE EAR TO EAR!!! Calling out "look at me" "look at me"!!! Or dressed in a beautiful holiday dress or bundled up in a happy pink coat and mittens, coloring pictures that will fade attached to a refrigerator door! I pray to God she has that refrigerator door! A beautiful little face shining on Christmas morning because she will know somebody loves her ..... and - wonderfully - incredibly - divinely - it will be her mommy and daddy ... the McRae family will never even enter her mind! HOW AMAZING THIS GIFT OF GIVING!!!

I could see all of these images in my heart as we shopped! And a crazy kind of excitement and joy carried me through the aisles! What a glorious gift it was to me that God had given my little family the ability to do even this one thing!

I LOVE CHRISTmas!

Be Merry!

Kalena Christmasing

Oh Yeah - Jesus is the Reason for ALL the seasons! :)