As I sit at my desk to type out these words for this week’s offering, my mind is flooded with many thoughts. I think back over this past year and all that has happened in my life. I suffered a massive stroke, and I suffered the loss of my mama, but my heart remains full of thankfulness.
Obviously, it is the week of Christmas which might possibly be my favorite time of the year. I’m not consumed by pretty lights or extravagant bows; I’m consumed by the true meaning of Christmas. I am without a doubt, in a very festive mood, not because of all the trappings this holiday entails, but because of what this special holiday means to us all.
This special time brought us such a tremendous gift over 2000 years ago. A baby born in a manger in a very meager environment. The fact this baby came was nothing short of a miracle. I have witnessed a miracle in my own life in these last months. The birth of Jesus and the fact that I’m still alive were both orchestrated by a much higher power. In my estimation they were both miracles and they both came from above.
I happened across something a few days ago that I wrote on Christmas morning last year. I didn’t write it as an article, prior to this, it has not been in print. I wrote it because of my experience that morning and how deeply I feel about Christmas. I wanted to share it with the world. I hope it means as much to you as it does to me.
“For as many years as I can remember, I have given myself the gift of a duck hunt on Christmas morning. Stella had asked me if we were going this year, I said yes. She told me she only wanted to get one duck; it is Christmas after all, I agreed.
We left home well before daylight, not a soul was out stirring. We parked not far from a dirt road and headed into the woods. We walked through a whole bunch of turkeys that were roosted in the trees above. They made a great commotion as they exited the area.
We made our way down into the flat pond and got set up. Then we heard several other turkeys fly down and go to talking. They were clucking and purring, which is unusual for this time of year, but it was music to my ears nonetheless.
Then I heard the squeal of a pair of wood ducks as they made their entrance into that wet weather pond. They splashed down only feet from us. Stella was watching them as they swam around, then more flew in as well and lit on the water. Stella sat there and patiently waited.
All of a sudden, as if on cue, a big drake wood duck cupped up and was dropping in the hole. I shot the duck for; she retrieved it to hand. I smiled, as we had both received a gift. We walked back to the truck, seeking the warmth it would provide after being chilled down in that old duck pond.
It being Christmas morning, there is a stillness, a great sense of peace that envelopes everything, you can just feel it in the depths of your soul. The tears began to freely flow, the truth is, however, that I woke up to the feel of warm tears streaming down my face. Not because of sadness, but because I was overcome with gratitude.
I’m so immensely grateful for all I’ve been given, the life that I have been allowed to live and for all the love that exists in my life, but this morning especially, for the greatest gift I’ve ever received. The gift of Jesus. He was born in a manger and died on a cross.
He died on a cross for me, for you, for all of us. We can never hope for a better gift, The gift of salvation. I love Christmas and all it entails, but it’s not about pretty ribbons and fancy gifts, it’s about Jesus. It’s alright to enjoy all of the things that go along with Christmas, but keep them in their proper place, remembering that Jesus is the greatest gift of all.
As I was riding around after Stella and I had that duck hole, I was given another gift, the gift of a brilliant sunrise. With my eyes filled with tears, I somehow managed to capture an image of what God had created for us all to enjoy.”
