Quarter til Twelve

It was the evening before Christmas, about a quarter til twelve
I was sitting alone on the couch;

Remembering our many blessings and enjoying

Our thoughtfully decorated house.

 

Grandmother had long retired for the night

And I’d have gone too, but I was enjoying the fireplace dying light

And the silence that one only finds late, late at night.

 

My stomach was still full from a great evening meal

And our company had gone home early because some of

The parents still had stockings to fill.

Suddenly I spied movement just below the wood box door

A tiny mouse squeezed under it, then jumped

Ever so quickly to the living room floor.

 

He sniffed the air, twitched his nose,

Then scampered past the hearth,

Practically running over my toes.

 

About the same time, quicker than an elf can wink

Another tiny mouse scampered from under the kitchen sink.

He sniffed the air and twitched his nose, ran across the tile floor,

Scampered under the dining table, took a sharp right ,  then

Stopped, right in front of the grandfather clock’s door.

Then, he just sat there quietly on that cool hardwood floor.

 

The other mouse soon joined him and together they sat silently,

Watching the hands move slowly and listening as the pendulum's swing

Created the clock’s soft tick, filling the still night air.

 

Then, as the Westminster chime began to strike twelve

Those two tiny mice could well have been elves.

For they stood on their hind paws, twirled in tiny circles

Dancing with joyful purpose, as if they were by themselves,

Sharing a joyful moment on that new Christmas Day.

 

 

As the last chime sounded, each mouse ran for the wood box door,

Disappeared under it and I’ve not see them any more.

 

The fire was nearly gone, except for a few smoldering embers

And I thought to myself, “Granddaddy, this is a night you must remember!”

Christmas is special and you cannot forget!

It’s not about giving or about the things that you get.

It’s about family, good memories and more

It’s about remembering when God opened Heaven’s door.

God’s true gift from Heaven for the world’s many parts,

Brought the Christmas spirit to dwell in men’s hearts.

 

So those two tiny mice, dancing with joyful purpose

 Reminded me again of a truth that’s so clear…..

That the joy of Christmas should last the whole year!

 

May Christmas bring you the gifts of  God’s Spirit

~ Joy, Peace and Hope & Love ~

An Unexpected Gift

The receiving of gifts, especially in childhood, ranks as one of the high points of life.  The anticipation of receiving a gift on one’s birthday and at Christmas generates some of the highest emotional peaks in the short years of childhood.  As a general rule, we expect those gifts.  We know they are coming and often know what the gift will be because we put in a request or gave “Santa” a list of our wants and wishes.

As we grow older, the excitement of receiving gifts loses some of the emotional power, but it still pleases us to be the recipient of a gift.  As adults, we begin to think more about the giver of a gift and their motivation for giving it.  Sometimes we wonder if there is a hidden message attached to the gift.  We begin to ponder our options related to the gift.  If I don’t need or like it, can I exchange it without hurting the giver's feelings?  Gift giving becomes more complicated as we grow older.

But what about gifts we receive that are unexpected?  Those gifts that come to us with no strings attached, no special occasion, they simply appear out of the blue.  I’ll have to admit that I’ve received very few gifts like this, but when I have, they spiked my emotions and caused me to think about all the possible ramifications associated with the gift and the giver.

A few years ago, my great aunt Francis died.  Her husband, Uncle Ed, was my grandmother’s brother.  Uncle Ed died some years before his wife, thus his estate was left to Aunt Francis.  It was not until her death, many years after his, that some of his possessions and assets were distributed. 

Aunt Earle, my mother’s sister, was the executor of their estate and after settling all the details she delivered two items that uncle Ed had designated that I receive.  She handed me a small box and said, “Uncle Ed wanted you to have these.”  Inside the cotton lined box I found an Elgin pocket watch, given to him by his mother upon his high school graduation and his college ring from the University of Tennessee Pharmacy School.  Accompanying the objects was a small hand written note that simply said, "Give these to Phillip."  Two very personal items left to a great nephew that last saw him over 30 years before his death.  The small box with its contents had been sitting in a bank safety deposit box all these years just waiting to be given as “an unexpected gift”.

I had lots of questions about these unexpected gifts.  What was the motivation of the giver?  Why was it given to me and not someone else?  Had uncle Ed meant for me to receive it sooner, hoping it might be a motivational symbol for a younger man? The mystery and unexpectedness of the watch and the ring prompted my thinking for some time.

From personal experience I know that giving to others brings me pleasure.  So, I have to assume that uncle Ed enjoyed leaving the watch and ring to me.  As my aunt gave me the items, uncle Ed’s spirit probably smiled as he saw the surprised, but puzzled look on my face.

The Elgin pocket watch was rather ordinary, but as a high school graduation gift in 1927 it was probably a significant gift.  So, what meaning does a pocket watch have for me today? 

Watches symbolize time as well as keep time for us.  Did uncle Ed mean for me to be aware that relationships are timeless, that past times are linked to the present and future.  Did he simply mean for me to have an object that was given to him by his mother, my great grandmother?  Did he know that I didn’t have many tangible links with my family’s past and left these personal items hoping they would be a meaningful family link for me?

Uncle Ed's UT Pharmacy class ring was worn smooth from many years of daily use.  I could barely make out the "University of Tennessee" inscription on the crown of the ring.  I know it must have been very special to uncle Ed, but what does the ring mean to me? 

Rings have a powerful symbolism of linkage.  They can be links to institutions, links to marriage partners, links of friendship, and they provide a circular imagery of things that never end; like love, friendship and family. 

Although time, distance and even death separates us from others;  our family, love for others and friendships continue on like an unbroken circle.  They linger in hearts and minds and yes, even in objects like a gold class ring and a graduation pocket watch.

My gifts of a watch and a ring did not arrive at Christmas, but they prompted me to think of another gift this world received 2,000 years ago.  That gift was expected by some people and a total surprise to others.  It is strange that many of those who were expecting the gift didn’t recognize it when it arrived.  It didn’t look like the gift they wanted.  It wasn’t the gift they’d put on their list.  Others found that it was a free gift with no strings attached.  Man could accept the gift or reject it.  The gift was perfect, it was complete and yes; it was on time.

Many have rejected the gift.  They want to draw a circle that shuts God out; but God draws a circle that takes us in.  Those who have received the gift have been taken into the circle of God’s love.  God’s love is timeless.  It stretches from before creation, throughout the history of the world, into the present and streaks faster than a lighting bolt toward eternity.

A gold ring and a pocket watch, unexpected gifts that held a special meaning for me and perhaps now, for you.

 

 

Two Unexpected Gifts

A Gift from the Elders

A few years ago during the Christmas season, I agreed to chauffeur my wife Becky, her mom, Alga Watts, and two of her sisters, Aunt Mary Bell and Aunt Lucille, on a day trip to visit with their “baby brother”, Horace Teague, age 80.  Aunt Lucille is actually the baby of the family, she was still in her 70’s at the time, but the other three were all 80+.

It was a cold and raw Christmas Eve day with cloudy skies, a slight drizzle of rain with the possibility of snow later in the day.  We picked up Aunt Mary Bell at her home in Chestnut Hill, then Aunt Lucille in Newport, just off the Cosby highway, then on to Clifton Heights to get Mrs. Watts.  From there we headed toward Greenville to visit Uncle Horace.

Uncle Horace was a retired Freewill Baptist Preacher.  His wife had died some years prior and he lived alone, but his son Jim and wife Evelyn lived nearby.  Horace had limited mobility and poor vision, but he still had his booming “preacher voice” developed from years of preaching in small churches without a sound system.

He was so glad to see his sisters and was obviously moved emotionally as he hugged and greeted each one.  He talked at length about how all of them had “been blessed by the Lord.”  They all had tolerable good health, had children who could help take care of them when they needed help, and all had "good church-going, Bible-believing, Christ-focused "families.

It was soon clear that although Horace had retired from the pulpit, he had not given up preaching.  After talking a few minutes about his old church and why he’d left it recently and begun to form a new church family, he said….. “Now girls, (he’d forgotten I was sitting there too) I’m going to have to preach a little” …..And he commenced to hit what I call the “preacher talk” cadence.”   Uncle Horace probably built a good ten minute sermon as Alga, Mary Bell, Becky and I listened.  Lucille was nodding her head and saying “That’s right….that’s right” as she encouraged Horace’s preaching.

After the sermon, he talked about the new young families that were gathering to form up the “new church” and how they were committed to doing what “the Bible says we are supposed to do…..getting back to the word.”  Everyone finally shared some family talk about their children, grand kids, and Horace talked about his good neighbors from the nearby Mennonite community.  After about an hour and a half of visiting and remembering days gone by, everyone decided it was time to head back toward home.  Each sister said her goodbye, gave him a hug and we left Uncle Horace to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day alone.  Jim and Evelyn were out of town visiting their own children.

We delivered everyone home and made it back to our home in New Market without incident.  Rain was falling now and the temperatures were near freezing, but the roads remained clear of ice. 

A few days after Christmas, when life had settled back into some sort of routine, I was thinking about the Christmas Eve day spent with these special elders.  I jotted down some thoughts, actually gifts of insight, the elders shared with me that day.

·        These sisters truly loved their brother and showed it in many ways, some tangible, some not.  (They took Horace a special cake which he’d requested.)

·        Sisters will listen to a short sermon without saying a word.  They may not have wanted to be “preached to” but they didn’t let their brother know it.  They listened with encouragement and respect.

·        None of these elders complained about the hardships of age (loss of mobility, loss of hearing, poor vision and lapses of memory), but gave thanks for the good things of life.

·        Elders like to visit others and to be visited themselves.  It is the relationships that are important as we get older.  It is not things you can give or what you get….it is the people and the relationships that are built over a lifetime that matter.

·        The elders enjoyed the moment.  A simple drive of about 120 miles round-trip with conversation, a visit and a meal were pure enjoyment.  Enjoying life at the moment is important.  Today is all you’ve got, so enjoy it.

·        Each sister was glad to get back to her respective home.  Familiarity, security, your own chair and good neighbors make coming home the best part of any trip.

·        Horace and his three sisters were all surviving spouses from long-time monogamous marriages.  For them, death didn’t end long-term relationships.  They each talked about “talking to their spouse” often.  Uncle Horace said, “Now I don’t believe in talking to the dead or spirits, but I talk with Beulah every day…..you girls know what I mean.”  They all nodded their agreement and said “Yes, they talked too.”

·        The elders lived in expectation of an ultimate reunion with loved ones.  They talked about their “reunion with their spouse” in Heaven.  “It is going to be wonderful,” Mrs. Watts said….”I think more and more about it every day.”

It has been a number of years since Becky and I spent that memorable Christmas Eve day with the elders.  Uncle Horace and his three sisters (Alga, Mary Bell, & Lucille) are all deceased.  I’m still not as old as these elders were on that special day trip and I certainly don’t consider myself young any longer.  But you know what; the truth is that no matter how old you are, you can always learn something about life from those who are older. 

Our elders are a just a little further along on the journey, surviving much of what life has to offer, anticipating the future, and enjoying the gift of each new day. 

My visit with the elders reminded me once again that sometimes the best gifts are not wrapped in bright paper with fancy bows, but simply come from someone’s heart.

Christmas is almost here! 

Share a gift with someone from your heart.  

A Gift with a Story

It is always nice to receive a gift.  Gifts touch our emotions, making both giver and receiver happy, thankful, and fulfilled.  For children, receiving a gift is just plain exciting and fun. 

Gifts are tangible symbols that give evidence of our expressions of love, remembrances and celebrate our relationships with each other.  Birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries and other special times provide opportunities to give such symbols to each other. 

Sometimes, on rare occasions, we receive gifts that can trigger our deeper emotions.  And, as we grow older, it is sometimes the story behind a gift that amplifies its meaning and seals the gift to our heart….forever. 

Such was the case on a Christmas-Birthday a few years ago when Becky received a gift from my aunt Earle Stair.  Becky’s birthday is December 27^th and this gift was unexpected, very special, and was forever sealed in our hearts by its story.

Over the years, as we’d visited with aunt Earle and uncle John, Becky had noticed a set of silverware that Earle used from time to time.  To me, a fork is a fork and a spoon is a spoon, but not so with Becky.  Becky thought the silverware was pretty, interesting looking and had asked Earle about when, where and how she had acquired it. 

You can imagine how surprised Becky was that December birthday when Earle gave her that particular silverware of eight place settings and five serving pieces.  But as Paul Harvey used to say,"This gift is really a special one, but only if you know the “Rest of the Story.”

Aunt Earle and uncle John were married on December 24, 1941 and in those days folks didn’t give many bridal showers; wedding gifts tended to be kitchen ware, towels, washcloths and sheets.  Earle didn’t have the privilege of picking out fine china and silver. These were the days of World War II and times were lean for most folks.  Earl’s “fine silver” came from the local  5 & 10 variety store.  Back then we called them “dime stores.” 

By 1945, John and Earle were living in Middle Valley, near present day Chattanooga.  John had felt called to the ministry and Earle felt that she should have good china and silverware since a minister’s wife would be having guest into the home for meals and other occasions.  However, with money tight, she couldn’t afford to just go and buy the silver she would like to have. 

At the time, there was a radio program on the air that was called “Heart’s Desire.”  Earle listened to it each day as she ironed clothes and did housekeeping chores.  The program was built around the idea that listeners would send in post cards to the radio show telling of their “heart’s desire.”  Each day, the master of ceremonies would draw three cards from the thousands sent in.  If your card was read on the air, you received “your heart’s desire.”  Of course you know what Earle did.  Yep, she sent in several cards telling of her desire as a young minister’s wife to have some lovely silverware to grace her dining table.  As you might guess, none of Earle’s cards were ever drawn.

At some point, Earle told her mother, Zena Johnson, about what she had done; sending the cards into the radio show in hopes that they’d be drawn.  I don’t know that Zena made any comments at the time Earle related the story, but some months later she visited Earle and John and presented them with an eight place setting of silver, accompanied with these words, “Honey, most things in life that you get, you have to work for.”

On that day, Earle got her “heart’s desire,” not from a chance drawing, but from a mother who loved her and wanted to give an unexpected gift as a symbol of that love.

So you see, Becky’s birthday gift that December was far more than the physical value of the gift itself.  The gift she received, was really the story……the story of a young preacher’s wife and her desire for better things; the story of a mother’s love; and the story of an unexpected gift shared with another generation.

 

As I write this BLOG, aunt Earle is approaching her 92nd birthday.  Aging has stolen a lot of life's joy and much of her vibrant memory and stimulating conversational skills have disappeared.  But the legacy of her unexpected gift still resides with Becky; sealed in her heart and waiting to be shared with the next generation.