Do you ever get those?
Glitches?
You know, the things defined as a defect or malfunction in a plan?
Like, in your life plan?
Well, they show up faithfully in my life.
I am not an OCD or even real disciplined planner but I do try to have some direction that I am heading towards in life.
And then The Glitch Who Stole Structure shows up.
In Whomeverville. (Where I live.)
With things like dental challenges (smiles and chops for eating are pretty important),
Car trouble (someone telling you smoke is coming out of your parked car from under your hood is not the kind of BBQ you want),
Illness or health issues (should be left to commercials only),
Relationship struggles (forget about the happy endings that movies portray),
Financial trials (who needs the fountain of youth, I'm still looking for the money tree plantation),
And major home repairs (projects that HGTV House Crashers wouldn't even touch!).
Unlike the movie, all the joyous singing I can muster doesn't make my wallet grow three times larger or alter the "presents" (see above) sent my way.
It doesn't soften the Glitches heart either.
But guess what?
I change.
As I qiut singing "You're a Mean One Mr. Glitch" and I sing songs of gratitude and count the presents wrapped in Blessings paper (although few and pretty worn looking) my heart starts to soften.
In some weird Cindy Lou way, I start to see the Glitch as someone with something(s) to offer, to help learn and grow from. And instead of asking "Why are you taking my happiness tree? WHY?" I start to trust and believe that maybe there is a Christmas hidden within the trials after all.
And even though many of my life "presents" have been literally dumped in the abyss by the Glitch, I realize that maybe Christmas life doesn't mean not being poor...., maybe life... perhaps....means a little bit more.
Maybe it is realizing all that I do have (Glitches and all)-even if just Roast Beast.
"Christmas is a time to open our hearts to God and his gifts. Just like the rest of the year." ~Author Unknown
DISCLAIMER: I know this may seem untimely mentioning Christmas in the summer, but glitches come all the time and I should remember the blessing and ultimate gift that Christmas brings all year long.
For the first in my life Christmas was solely about the birth of Jesus.
There was no stress about shopping, or baking or crowds or a dinner menu.
There was no joy in watching and sharing with children and adults in gift exchanging.
It was the humblest of Christmas'.
I would like to say it was a conscious choice but it wasn't.
It was because of others' choices.
We are still feeling those effects and will be for a long time.
The year ended totally unexpected.
Thus I ended the old year and started the new year continuing to have The Unexpected Life.
In spite of that, this Christmas lesson taught me to be mindful in the future that not everyone is having a "Merry Christmas".
That focusing on Jesus is a needful thing and a blessing especially in trying times.
Remembering, that even when things are going well, especially when things are going well, Christmas is after-all about His birth.
I know this is off-timed but it has taken me this long to get to this point.
May the New Year be filled with blessings beyond what we can imagine!
"We may not know when or how the Lord's answers will be given, but in His time and His way, I testify, His answers will come." ~ Robert D. Hales
Did you know it was love that was sent from above to the Earth?
These are some of the words that were sung at the church Christmas program today.
At this time of year with all the demands and hustle and bustle and commercialism it is easy to forget that this season REALLY is about love.
It is hard for me to imagine the faith, obedience and love of Mary, a woman willing to bear God's son.
Knowing she was human, being asked to participate in the most spiritual act any mother would ever be asked to perform.
That of bringing God's son into this world.
(I would have had a long "are you sure...?" list.)
I think of the character of her husband Joseph, willing to take a wife bearing another's child.
The trusting faith, coupled with love for his heavenly father, his wife and an unborn child.
Truly an example of a man of God.
Love can only describe a Father willing to send His son to Earth knowing he would be persecuted for who he was.
His Father's son.
Knowing it was the only way to save all His children.
"How grateful I am to know that God loves us. The incomprehensible depth of that love found expression in the gift of His Only Begotten Son."
-- Gordon B. Hinckley
Think of the love of the man willing to be born in a stable and spend a life in selfless service to numerous people, many who would never believe his message.
Someone who would willingly sacrifice and in the end, give His life that we could all live again.
Mostly I think of the example of love Jesus showed through His lessons on how to treat others.
That one of the most important lessons about love He taught, to love one another as He has loved us (mentioned at least 5 times in John), is sometimes the hardest gift to give.
That it is easier to spend money and give materially than it is to give from our heart.
Maybe mention of scriptures is uncomfortable or not the appropriate place on this kind of blog.
Perhaps that is true, but what I do know is that all the pain inflicted in my life by others could have been prevented if love of others had been the model to follow.
So as I struggle within myself to get in the spirit of Christmas, I intend to ask myself often,"Did you remember it was because of love?" and "In what little way can I show love to another?"
I am grateful for the love I have been blessed with!
How did you know it was love?
"May I share with you a formula that in my judgment will help you and help me to journey well through mortality... First, fill your mind with truth; second, fill your life with service; and third, fill your heart with love."
--Thomas S. Monson
One of the Kindergartners told me about an elf who showed up at his house.
This elf on the shelf moves around "spying" on him to report back to Santa about his behavior.
It had made me suspicious as I looked around the shelves in my home.
Was there some mini-midget with pointed ears and tiny shoes stalking me?
What would his report state (about me) to the Big Guy up North?
* Has red nightie. Flannel.
* Thinks Christmas is still two months away.
* The only holiday baking smells are cinnamon Red Hot gum.
* No decorations.
* Currently on vacation in Denial.
* Wonders why the news is highlighting houses decorated in festive lights in sync to holiday music.
* States that her shopping is done (because she isn't going to do any.)
* It sounds like the cat is purring to the tune of "You're a mean one..."
P.S. Did the Grinch have a wife?
Elf
I am not sure what happened, but when I got up this morning there were the likes of miniature Ruby-like-Slippers sticking out from a fallen shelf.
(It closely resembled the tornado stricken Kansas house accident.)
Did I mention the slippers fit perfectly?!
