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Never believe the lie that you must have the best material possessions in
order for you to be happy and contented. The simple truth is the best
possessions one can have is to have their friends and family near to them
in the good times as well as the difficult times of life. The memories we
share with those whom we love will be with us far longer than any material
possession that we think will bring such joy. Reveling in and relishing
the good memories that were made in our youth still reverberate in our mind
these many years later and that is proof positive that material possessions
bring a moment of happiness, but beautiful childhood memories last a whole
lifetime. Be encouraged to put more emphasis on the time that you spend
with those whom you love rather than pursuing possessions that will have no
meaning when it comes time to think back over your life. (1 Timothy 6:6-12)
I hope this message ministers to your heart to appreciate your loved ones
and see how they being in your life makes you the lucky one. Things have
their place in our life, but those whom we love make our life much better
than any possession could ever do.
CHRISTMAS CRAYONS
My childhood was filled with laughter, love, and happy memories --
especially during the holidays, but the yuletide that stands out most is
the year of the Christmas Crayons.
I was nine that December, little sis Diane was eight and big brother Dennis
was 10. Since all of us were sophisticated non-believers in the man in the
big red suit, Mom thought she'd be straight with us.
“Money's tight so you're each getting one small gift so I can get your dad
the dresser he needs,” Mom warned.
Dennis made a grumpy face, but Diane and I weren't too upset. After all, we
had plenty of Barbie’s and board games to occupy our free time.
One day, about a week before Christmas, Dad was at work so Mom brought out
a huge box and a gigantic roll of red wrapping paper.
“I need you kids to help wrap but remember, Dad's dresser is our secret,”
Mom winked as Diane and I grabbed scotch tape and Dennis found the
scissors. After the box was gaily decorated, Mom let the three of us drag
it into her sewing room -- Dad would never look in there.
Since we always got up early Christmas morning, we could put it under the
tree and surprise Dad when he got up for Christmas breakfast. I knew my
parents always stayed up late on Christmas Eve, then put presents out
before they slipped off to bed.
Since I was nine and had my own alarm, I set it for 12:15 am so I could
sneak out and look at the loot under the tree.
I felt a little sad when I spied only three small gifts that Christmas Eve.
I frowned at the smallest tagged “Darlene”, but didn't dare shake it, smell
it, or touch it. I was old enough to know Christmas held little magic if I
already guessed my one and only gift. I trudged back to my room and reset
my alarm for 6:15 before slinking back under my smiley face quilt. I was
extra quiet so as not to wake my little sister softly snoring under her
Strawberry Shortcake blanket on the other twin bed.
Two blinks later my shrieking alarm clock signaled Christmas morning was
finally here. I popped out of bed and shrugged into my blue fuzzy bathrobe
before I yanked the pink quilt off of Diane. We heard Dennis already
galloping down the stairs, so Diane and I quickly followed.
As soon as we entered the living room I blinked a few times in the hopes
our three tiny gifts would have multiplied over night, but no such luck.
Without a word we trudged off to the sewing room to get Dad's gift. By the
time we'd dragged it under the tree, Mom was in the kitchen putting her
famous cinnamon rolls into the oven and we already smelled Dad's coffee perking.
“Time for presents. Hurry up!” Diane tugged mom's bathrobe, then all five
of us scrambled back into the living room.
“Youngest first,” Dad commanded when Dennis started reaching for his gift.
Diane quickly ripped the festive paper off her cereal-sized package and
promptly pulled out a bright red coloring book with a goofy grinning elf on
the cover.
“Thanks,” she squeaked in her best trying-to-be-happy voice.
I was next, so I grabbed the smaller box with my name on it and carefully
peeled off the paper.
“Geeze -- think we got all day?” Dennis grumbled.
My smile was genuine as I inspected my big box of 64 Crayola Crayons.
“Wow! It even has a built in sharpener. Thanks.”
Mom and Dad grinned as Dennis ripped the paper off his one measly gift.
“Neat. A model car,” my brother mumbled with all the enthusiasm reserved
for a visit to the dentist for three silver fillings.
Mom and Dad chuckled softly, then Mom smiled. “Kids, why don't you help Dad
open his present?”
The three of us huddled around the huge box while Dad stayed parked in his
Lazy-Boy.
“Go ahead. You didn't get to open much this year,” Dad nodded.
The three of us quickly ripped into the bright red paper, and Dennis pulled
the tape off the huge brown box. Shouts of “Wow!” and “Groovy!” filled the
room as the three of us discovered more than a dozen wrapped gifts nestled
inside the big box.
Dennis frantically grabbed at all the boxes bearing his name -- boys were
such animals! I glanced shyly at Dad to see if he was disappointed.
“What about the dresser?” I asked.
Mom laughed. “We got a new one last summer, remember? I saved the box for
this Christmas surprise.”
The next moments were a blur of flying paper and gasps of delight. I don't
recall the other gifts I gushed over that year, but I think about the
Christmas Crayons every December.
These days when Christmas means big ticket items like portable DVD players
and Nintendo games for elementary school kids, I long for a simpler time
when a box of 64 (with its very own built in sharpener!) brought pure joy.
Yes, I'm glad my childhood was filled with laughter, love and one special
Yuletide -- colored with the joy of Christmas Crayons.
By Darlene Buechel
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless
His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy
youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
Psalm 84:9-12 “Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of Thine
anointed. For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather
be a doorkeeper in the House of my God, than to dwell in the tents of
wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace
and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. O
LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: I WISH FOR YOU...
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem133.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: RESCUED FROM DEPRESSION
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony37.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
