Christmas Week 2014

In reading Ann Voskamp's blog earlier this week, I was reminded of how low Jesus stooped to be born in a stable.  She mentioned how her son "forgot" to shower after doing his chores in the barn and how embarrassed she was to smell the barn odor as they sat in church.  It reminded me of my own growing up years on the farm.  One spring as school was letting out, my dad informed my sister and me that we would be taking turns during the summer helping him in the barn preparing the cows for milking.  I took my turn first.  My job was to wipe the udders to prepare for my dad to put the milking machine on the cow.  Cows are not picky about what they lie in and their udders were invariably caked with manure.  My job was to take a bucket of water and a rag and wipe those udders clean.  I worked away diligently for a week, then spent hours washing my hands trying to get that manure smell off.  Ugh.  It was not easy.  Being the picky, fussy "Miss Priss" that I was, I talked my sister into taking my turn the rest of the summer.  To this day, she is my best friend!

I found one picture of a cow I used to own - in an old photo album, but the picture was unsalvageable.  This one, though, gives a good idea of what our barn was like.  The cows were all in a row with heads in the feed trough and back ends near the gutter.  As you can see, their tails are just caked with manure and they were very good at switching them in your face while you were cleaning their filthy udders.  Oh yes, it was a lovely job.

I also remember a certain boy who would ride the bus with us kids on our way to school.  He smelled like the barn.  The rest of us made fun of him and would sit as far away from him as possible.  

Of course, the manger scenes we put under our trees and see on people's lawns at Christmas time do not come near to showing the reality of Jesus' manger scene.  Can you imagine how other people must have snubbed his family?  How they must have smelled!

But it just proves how much God wanted to show that he came for the lowliest of the low.  He was not presenting salvation to the righteous, holy, pure, high and mighty - but to all.  Our hearts are desperately wicked and there is no good in any of us.  

Jesus told his disciples that he didn't come to be served, but to serve.  The amazing thing to think about is that he didn't stop serving with his death.  He continues to serve us as we live our daily lives.  I couldn't do a thing without his enabling power.

Speaking of Jesus' enabling power...I've been slowly getting some of my energy back.  Last year was so stressful with all we were going through that I was just managing to do the minimum to get through my days.  But recently, I've been sleeping a little better, and doesn't good sleep always help the morale and motivation?  In my case, it's an emphatic "YES."

We were by ourselves on Christmas day.  Our girls had Christmas with their own families and in-laws.  After being by ourselves for 10 years, it still seems strange to be alone on Christmas day.  Not that I mind or am sad or upset...it is just strange.  Fortunately, Andy and I enjoy being together.  

We decided to explore a park we hadn't been to before:  Palmyra Nature Cove.  What a nice park with lots of hiking trails.  It is right next to the Delaware River with a nature center and a butterfly nursery!  Although it was pretty windy, it was still a nice day for hiking and being out in nature.

 Saturday was an even nicer day with temperatures up in the 50's.  We couldn't stay indoors on a day like that so drove down to Chatsworth to hike in Franklin Parker Preserve.  We really like it there.  It's becoming a favorite for us.  With 9,770 square miles, there are lots of opportunities for us to keep exploring.  The sun was shining, the air was still, the sky was blue.  What was not to love!

Well, it's back to work tomorrow, but we still get an extra day off this coming week with New Year's Day.  And it will be our family Christmas.  We still have presents under our tree.  Kira asked me this morning when I saw her at church:  "Do you still have a present for me?"  Yes, Kira, we do...and for all of our other 9 grandchildren, too.