White Elephant Gifts, Creepy Dolls and What’s Really Inside of Us

Tis the season for Christmas parties, decorating, eating far too much, ugly sweater contests and yes, the white elephant gift giving party.  Last night at our church, my family and I attended our first Christmas party with the whole church since moving there in July.  You were instructed to bring a gift, that was essentially a gag gift, and wrap it nicely so that no one would know the contents inside this packaged beauty.  When your number was called you were able to go up to the table of gifts and pick one, or steal a gift that someone else had already gotten.  So yes, we had a party at our church where the joy was to steal someone else’s gift. (I suppose there could be a whole other blog just about that, but for now we’ll just leave it alone).  I admit it, I stole a gift.  I kind of felt bad at first because Lynn is such a nice lady and has always been so sweet to me, but this urge came over me to steal that pretty box covered with a big snowman and dangling with red glittery Santa shoes.  The red glitter just drew me in.  It was a wonderful evening of silliness, laughter and the fun of watching what each person pulled from their cutely wrapped box or lovely decorated bag.  One lady had chosen a sequenced Christmas stocking that was sure to look wonderful in her home until she remembered that there probably was a gag gift inside.  Gag gift it was—creepy gift I’d say.  In fact, if there was the creepiest white elephant gift of the night she picked it.  It was an old ceramic doll truly in need of some clothing, a facelift and surgery for the hole left in her foot.  The look on the dolls face would scare anyone that walked up and saw her just starring at you. 

What I found the most interesting was how people chose their gifts.  The first few numbers that were called up went to the table and found the most beautifully wrapped gift.  One gift even had a flashing, colorful bow that everyone tried to steal.  Of course no one knew what was in the inside of the box with the bow but they sure wanted it because it looked pretty on the outside.  The gift I brought was a nasty old ceramic guy that looked like a hobo—certainly nothing you’d want to display in your home unless it were displayed in the back of a dark closet, but the wrapping looked nice, so it was chosen.  I keep thinking back to the sequence stocking that was flashy looking, sure to be a hit but was a dud on the inside.  It was so good for a while as it sat on the table in all of its wonder……until it was unwrapped and then the more wrapping that came off, the more ugliness shone through.

Sometimes I feel like we are that way.  We make ourselves up to look nice.  We even put nice bows in our hair (they may not light up but they are still pretty).  We wear the most stylish clothes and make people want to choose us because of how we look on the outside.  It’s all fine and well until the friend or spouse chooses us and they begin unwrapping us in the form of getting to know who we are, what our character is, what is truly inside us.  I’ve heard words said about people such as, “They sure looked like they had it all put together on the outside but then I realized that they are icky and ugly on the inside.”  Isn’t that sad?  All of the effort to make themselves look good on the outside but they are filled with ick on the inside.

What if we chose to focus on the inside of us?  What if we decided that the most important thing was to build onto what our character is and use Christ as our model?  What if we surrendered the junk inside of us to the grace and love of Jesus and felt as worthy on the inside as we look good on the outside? 

Don’t be like a white elephant gift. Don’t make yourself look excellent on the outside while the inside of you is rotting away.  Take care of what is in your heart, soul and mind.  When someone unwraps you (gets to know you) let them see the Jesus that is in you, not the ick and yuck inside you that you don’t have the energy to change. With God’s help you can be the beautiful one inside and out! Get the junk out of your trunk!

You've Got to Give a Little

It seems that our focus so often is buying, and taking it all in for us and making sure that we are full.  Of what?  Well, that depends on the person.  I mean who can deny that just a few days ago most of us gorged ourselves on turkey, stuffing, pies and whatever else was around to get our hands on.  Then to top it all off there were those who set their alarms for 3 a.m. so that they could be the first ones to the Black Friday sales—to buy stuff.  I was a bit shocked, but not at all surprised, to see the fight shown all over the news of two guys wrestling around in a store. And for what?  Stuff.  That’s all, just a good deal on stuff.

Today is called Giving Tuesday.  I like to put some focus on that for a moment.  Remember the old saying, “it’s so much better to give than to receive?”  If that’s the case then why aren’t we giving more and filling ourselves less?  I love to give to others.  In fact, there are times that I see a need and secretly wish that I was really rich so that I could write a big fat check to help out the person or organization that is in need.  But if I’m to be fair, I’m also pretty selfish.  I like to give when it’s convenient to me but if I have to go out of my way too much then, at times, I really have to think twice.  Just the other day my daughter asked me to grab something for her while I was up.  Seriously I complained.  I mean, that’s 20 extra steps in the opposite direction of where I was going.  I’m not sure that I can do that for you. Sad, but true. 

Do you give to others?  I don’t mean bringing them a glass of water, or taking them a piece of pizza if you get up from the table.  I’m talking about the serious giving.  Do you give your time to the widow that just lost her husband and just needs someone to talk too?  If you are financially blessed do you support ministries and organizations that help spread the gospel.  (Even if you aren’t financially well off do you sacrifice to give?)  Ouch! I think I stepped on some toes with that one.  Sacrifice is a tough one.  But if it’s really better to give than to receive than we should be thrilled to make that sacrifice. 

Oftentimes we just don’t know how or where to give.  I’d like to suggest a few ideas to get your minds thinking.  I have a friend who is starting a new women’s ministry center in the Houston area called The Vineyard Project (Facebook: The Vineyard Project) and she is looking for investors.  There are missionaries all over the world waiting for support so that they can share Jesus in the cities, towns and tribal areas.  Just today I was reminded of the Set Free Movement, an organization that is helping to rescue those that are in the sex trade as slaves (modern day slavery).  You can give to their campaign at us4.campaign-archive1.com.   If all of that seems too far removed from you, look around your city.  There are food banks, shelters, and families in need all around us.  What would you be willing to give?  Deuteronomy 16:17 says, Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.  First of all, count your blessings and see how much we truly have.  Secondly, pray for the Lord to show you ways that you can give with joy and even with a little sacrifice.  You will find that it really is better to give than to receive. 

In Sickness and In Health

When I got married and said my vows to my husband Brian, I meant every word.  Just out of college, in love, the world in front of us, I rarely thought of getting old and what that could and would mean in our marriage. In sickness and in health at that time meant giving a Kleenex to Brian when he had a cold, or making him warm soup---I could do that. 

We focused on building a home together, long walks holding hands, going to church, the movies and vacations together.  This stuff was all physically easy.  I was young, my body was in shape and the marriage world was our oyster!

Fast forward 25 years into marriage and we both have our share of aches and pains.  We are no longer the super “in shape” kids that we used to be, we have bottle of Biofreeze in the medicine cabinet (the “new” Bengay—less stinky), we have our multi-vitamins and Brian and I each have our own—yes our own heating pads.  There are just too many times we both need it at the same time. Sad. I ask myself, “What has happened to my body?”  I’m aging.  I don’t like it but I can’t stop it.  What if myself or my husband get to the point where we hurt so badly that walking is hard, just getting into the car is hard, etc… In the future will I be the kind of wife that I promised to be in 1990 when my husband doesn’t fell well and may need more assistance than just giving him a Kleenex or warm soup?  What if he needs me to help him into the car or hold onto him as we walk into church?  25 years ago that never crossed my mind. 

Why does this all come to my mind today?  We have a friend who died about 3 weeks ago at the age of 79.  I honestly had only known him and his wife since we moved here four months ago.  This man was a Godly man and encouraged us as if we’d known him for years.  He was kind of like the uncle that always is there to say kind words and lift you up. At age 37 he had his first heart attack and at that time began the reality for him and his wife of what “in sickness and in health” truly meant.  For so long he was in tremendous pain, had a hard time getting around without assistance and was so frustrated by it.  He was a man’s man, a hunter, fisherman, coach, and in his earlier years a football player at CMU.  When he and his wife married I’m sure they didn’t think that the struggles that he would endure would come so soon.  But yet his wife lovingly cared for him for so many years.  She told me more than once, “It was a privilege to be by his side for 57 years and take care of him.”  Wow.  She took her vows of “in sickness and health” very seriously. 

In the few short months that we have been here I’ve watched her gently care for him and with a deep love in which she does it.  I heard him thank her and speak kindly to her.  True and lastly love knows no age, it just is.  It has taught me a huge lesson of what the words “in sickness and in health” means.  It means sticking together even when it’s not easy.  It’s caring for the other person as if you were caring for yourself—because you are one.  It means sacrificing things you may like to do for the benefit of the other person.  Ward and Norma taught me a wonderful lesson about the true vows of marriage.  I want to be just like them when I grow up.

The Artistry of God

Wow.  Just plan old wow! I can’t even step out the door of my house without being immersed in the color of the fall season.  I love it.  The tree out my front door is turning a beautiful color of yellow and is just gorgeous.  I love the fall season.  The smell of the leaves in the air, the wood heater burning, the chill in the morning, hot cider with cinnamon at the orchard where my daughter works, it’s just invigorating!

I always knew people that would drive “up north” to do a color tour and I always wondered what the big deal was.  Trees turn colors all over Michigan.  Now that I live here, I get it.   The rolling hills and abundance of trees have colors that are like no other.  It is truly a masterpiece of God.  Each tree has slightly a different color and as you look over the hills and valleys and see the blending of those colors, it just takes your breath away.  It almost looks fake it’s so amazing.  Every time I drive I just look around in awe and wonder.  How can it continue to be so beautiful?  There are days that I drive and then quickly pull to the side of the road for a picture, only to go just a little bit ahead for another picture.  It sure makes it hard to get home in a timely manner.  I’m sure you have seen the abundance of fall photos on my Facebook page.

You know God could have just kept those trees the same color all of the time but he chose, for us, to show us more of his creation and majesty.  I think that sometimes we just need to be reminded of just how amazing God is—I believe fall is that little reminder boost that we need.  I love how he chooses to literally surround us with this beauty.  Do you see it?  These few weeks of fall it just hits us in the face but what about year round?  I just want to encourage you today to find the beauty all around you no matter what season it is. 

She Moved North and ….”Poof,” She’s Gone

I can’t believe that most of the summer passed without a blog entry from me.  What is this world coming too?  Did you miss me?  If not then you don’t have to tell me.  J  I’ve tried to stay connected through social media with you all about life, moving and of the many changes that have happened within our last several months.

We are getting settled quite nicely into our new house.  The pictures are up, it feels cozy and is beginning to feel like home.  Northern Michigan is so beautiful, I see new things of God’s creation daily.  The leaves are just  now starting to change color and soon the brilliance of color will explode!

I have been busy working on and going through final edits of my book Stumbling Along.  Look for it hopefully by the end of October.  There is much excitement on my end as I get ready to launch it.  God is good.

As we have just changed from summer to fall and as schedules start to become much the same day to day, may you feel the joy and presence of Jesus with you every step of the way.