It’s Christmas time, so I’ve spent a lot of time in the mall.  This year has been especially fun because I have enjoyed the company of my 2 teenage daughters.  They even got up and came with me on Black Friday.  I thought for sure I’d scare them off with a 4 am departure time, but they were up for it and even seemed excited by the prospect of being out shopping at a time any sane person would be home sleeping in bed!  It was a lot of fun and they brought a new energy to the ghastly early morning hour.  I loved having them along!  As we shopped, and I was continually looking for which way this one went or where that one took off to, it occurred to me that shopping with teenage girls is a bit like herding cats!  I may have an idea of where I’d like to go, but they’ve got a mind of their own!  There’s just no containing them!  Have you ever seen a cat chase a flashlight on a dark wall?  That’s pretty much what watching my teenage girls shop a Hollister store looks like.  Have you ever watched a cat pounce on a kitty toy, or follow a dangling string?  Oh yes, just like them in the accessory aisle of Charlotte Russe, or the Tee Shirt tables at Aeropostale!  Like cats they can squeeze past any obstacle, like for instance, their shopping bag laden mother.  They have extremely keen eyes, and can be very finicky, “I don’t know why, I just like this one better…” and have highly selective hearing, “Yes, dear, but that one is twice the price!”  And where new shoes are concerned?  They always seem to land on their feet!  Yep, I tell you it’s just like herding cats!

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Relationship… defined as a state of connectedness between people involving mutual dealings; kinship or connection by blood, marriage, or adoption. 

There is one relationship I wouldn’t trade for anything or anyone, because He was my first! Even before I could really understand the connectedness between us, He was the one who  I was connected with through blood and marriage.  It is my heavenly covenant ( agreement between God and me in which He makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from me in return). 

Nonetheless, our earthly covenant (spiritual and legal union to create kinship) is the one where we had to prepare and position ourself for that  ”certain behavior in return”.   Marriage is a blessing… some may say yes and those who are married may say different. But trust and believe that if you ever get married or you currently are married, God’s plan and purpose is to help us clearly understand the behavior we must have in return! 

For a mature christian seeks God’s will and wisdom daily…

That one was free 

But getting back on task…

There is a miracle in marriage… the miracle of transformation.  Transformation is the PROCESS which involves the transformation of the whole person in thoughts, behaviors, and styles of relating with God and others. And transformation in marriage results in a life of service to your spouse and being a witness for Christ.

For women, God is preparing us to be a part of our husband’s destiny. And in that preparation/birthing  we must remember and continue these behaviors in return: prayer, preparation, practice, praise, purpose in what our role in marriage. And none of these things cease when and after we say, “I do”.  But the one thing that keeps us pressing toward the PROMISE and destiny for RELATIONSHIP is, we must always remember what we are carrying and who is our first!

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We recently watched one of our favorite Christmas movies: It’s A Wonderful Life.  In it George Bailey faces enormous pressures from his work that affects his entire family.  He becomes so depressed he wishes he had never been born.  The movie continues with what Clarence – his guardian angel – calls a gift,  “You’ve been given a great gift, George: A chance to see what the world would be like without you.”

Certainly we are facing very demanding, difficult times in our nation.  Many are facing financial struggles as challenging as George.  In can affect how we are celebrating this season, and how well we are caring for our spouses and children through it all.  Today, we encourage you to pause and reflect on how rich you truly are.  Regardless of our material possessions, we have been given a great gift – Christ Jesus, who took the wrath we deserved as sinners and welcomed us into His family.   We have spouses who love us, like Mary Bailey, and are committed to walking with us in the good times and the bad.  This is no light thing!  It is a gift!  Imagine what life would be like without such blessings?  We would find, like George, there really is no life apart from the relationships we enjoy.

The movie ends with this quote from Clarence, “no man is a failure who has friends!” And our spouses are the closest friends we’ll ever have in this life – and it is a wonderful life!

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Apparently, these days, instead of being born in a manger, Jesus was born on a shoebox train. We might need to work on Luke’s theology a bit.

Choo, choo!

Seriously, though, it has been so fun to watch Luke play with this toy nativity, and to help him learn about Jesus and His advent in such a concrete way. Teaching Luke the simple truths of Christmas has been so good for my heart and reminds me of the wonder of the Incarnation. God became a baby, Immanuel, God With Us!