When we were
children my sisters and I waited with anticipation every year for the Sears Christmas
Wish Book to arrive. We would then spend hours poring over the toy section
choosing our favorite toys and what would finally end scribbled on our wish
list for Christmas.
We never received
everything on our lists but mom always managed to get us one of our favorites
near the top of the list. I no longer remember the things on my lists that I
never received. Even at a young age I was aware that mom had sacrificed and
created some sort of miracle for me to have the special toy I did get. Mom’s
choice was always perfect.
As an adult my
Christmas wish list no longer comes from the Sears catalogue but instead it
comes from my heart.
This Christmas of
2015 I wish
-that my family
will be happy, healthy and blessed
-that all of our
problems will have perfect solutions
-that there will be
no unresolved, painful conflict in our extended families
-that there will be
peace in my heart, my family’s hearts, in our communities, country and in the
world
My list could go on
but I figure that there are some pretty big items on that list. Just as I used to hand my mother my Christmas wish
list, I now hand my list over to God. God is perfectly capable of providing for
every last desire but He knows best just what I need. If He chooses to leave
something off my list I can relax knowing that there is a reason and enjoy what
He did give me. This Christmas I am very happy that my family is all happy,
healthy and blessed. I’ve received my top of the list wish!
I doubt all of our
problems will have perfect solutions or at least not the kind I expect. And there
are some ongoing conflicts in our extended families that aren’t going to
disappear. Instead God has asked us to hope and persevere with those things
throughout another year.
As for peace he
promises to fill my heart with as much of it as I have room for. That is a work
in progress. From that place God wants me to share with my community, country
and the world. One way I do that is with my writing. This past year I was given
some gifts in my writing life that I wasn’t expecting; a chance to start a
Creative Writing class through the University of Toronto has expanded my
knowledge and given me a thirst for more; meeting new people through Inscribe
both on line and through the fall conference was another surprise gift that has
been a huge encouragement.
God always gives
the best gifts; the best surprises. Many Christmas’s ago He sent His Son Jesus.
Everything else on my list somehow falls away when I unwrap that One. God
sacrificed everything to create a miracle for me not just on Christmas day but
every day. God’s choice is always perfect.
