Starting again--and it's not a New Years gimmick

I've been neglectful.

I've neglected my blog. And in the process, I've neglected my friends.

 It's silly how small a change it takes to make us change course, and how, left unchecked, that small change leads us completely astray. It reminds me of the nursery rhyme (which is really a history lesson in verse):



For want of a nail, the shoe was lost,
For want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For want of a horse, the rider was lost,
For want of a rider the message was lost,
For want of a message the battle was lost,
For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost.
All for the want of a horseshoe nail.

I made a little change in computers some long time ago. So my bookmarks were lost.
When I lost my bookmarks I lost a number of the blogs I used to visit (and because it was more effort, even the ones I remembered I didn't frequent as often).
And then because I didn't visit as often, I felt out of touch.
And because I felt out of touch, I didn't feel like I could make relevant comments.
And because I didn't make relevant comments, interaction was lost.
And when interaction was lost, so was evidence of the friendship (although, I will say, that from my end the affection and care and prayers didn't end).

And when evidence of the friendship was lost, I kind of dropped it all.

And then there's the silly aspect of Facebook that took over the time I used to spend reading and writing blogs. And while I keep up with some of my blog-friends there, it's still not quite the same as dropping by each other's places and seeing what everyone's been up to. It's kind of the difference between the 3 minute greeting between church services rather than sitting down for a cuppa something together. You can't build real relationships in those 3 minute pass-bys.

So, I am starting over.

The thought has occurred to abandon it altogether, but honestly, I miss it.

I miss the writing. I miss the sharing. I miss my friends.

I hope you'll all give me another chance.

25 Stories of Advent--December 25--The Rest of the Story

The book I'm sharing today is precious to me beyond words. I think it was my first Christmas book acquisition, many years before I had children.

This is certainly a case of saving the best for last. It's a book that starts with the Christmas story, but then follows through with the rest of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Which is ultimately the reason His birth is cause for celebration today.

The Life of our Lord, by Charles Dickens is the last of his books to be published. In fact, it was never meant to be published. It was written for his children because, as he said,

"My dear children, I am very very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle and so sorry for all the people who did wrong, or were in anyway ill or miserable, as he was. And as He is now in Heaven, where we hope to go, and all to meet each other after we are dead, and there be happy always together, you never can think what a good place Heaven is, without knowing who he was and what he did."


I found this volume at a Parable store after Christmas one year. I picked it up as a gift for my beloved grandfather. Though not educated (you'd never know it to speak with him), he was the smartest man I knew. And he made me feel smart too.

He was born in England, so of course he grew up reading Dickens (and everything else he could get his hands on; I never knew a more voracious reader). Since this book wasn't published until after Dickens' last child died, I was fairly certain my non-religious grandfather had never read it.

Grandpa and I didn't discuss spiritual things; an informal agreement to disagree I suppose. But I knew he'd read what I gave him, so I gave him this book for Christmas the next year hoping he'd read it from interest regarding what Dickens might have to say on the topic. We never talked about it.

 Two years later, after he died, I found this book on his bedside table along with his copy of my first book, which I'd dedicated to him. Last year, as I pulled this volume out to add to my basket of Christmas books, I thumbed through it--apparently for the first time since then--and found that he marked his place in the book with my kindergarten photo! I had never seen any photos of us outside the few albums they had.

God knows my prayer that between the devotions in my book that explain the plan of salvation, and Dickens beautiful summary of the life of Christ, that my grandfather's heart would be open to Him in a way it never had been before.

This book may be hard to find; I'm sure you'll have to visit one of the sources for used books to get a volume of your own. But it's worth the quest to find. Reading the life of Jesus, told as only Charles Dickens can, is a blessing in itself.

May you have a blessed day celebrating with loved ones. And may the conclusion of our "Christmas holidays" be just the beginning of another year spent seeking to know Him more.

Always,
Mary

25 Stories of Advent--December 12

Today's books both look at the animals in the stable making room for the baby Jesus to join them. Room for a Little One by Martin Waddell (Jason Cockcroft, Ill. McElderry Books, 2004) is a warm, beautifully illustrated book that tells of each animal (Kind Ox, Old Dog, Stray Cat, et al) welcoming the next in out of the cold with the encouragement, "There's always room for a little one here."


It's a simple, gentle telling of Mary and Joseph arriving at the stable and baby Jesus being born surrounded by the animals. Room for a Little One is a good choice if you want to give a book of the real story of Christmas without it seeming overly preachy. The soft, almost dreamy illustrations make this a perfect bedtime story.


The classic Who is Coming to Our House? was one of our first Christmas books. In this sweet board book Little Mouse comes to the stable to announce the pending arrival of a special guest. In turn, the animals each do something to prepare. "We must clean, " says Lamb. "Dust the beams," says Ram. 

There is something precious in the telling of each of these stories. While my (allergic-to-everything-with-fur) logical mind knows that Jesus didn't come for the animals, the expectation that these tales build does give a glimpse of the what the state of our own hearts should be.

25 Stories of Advent--December 11

Today's book is for younger children. What Is Christmas? by Michelle Medlock Adams, Ill. by Amy Wummer (Candy Cane Press, 2006) is a bright, colorful board book that looks at all the fun things about the season--Christmas trees and twinkling lights, candy canes and cookies, the Christmas play and Santa Claus--and asks the question, "What is Christmas about?" In a simple rhyme the book tells children:

All of these things are really nice,
and super-duper fun.
But Christmas is about much more than that--
It's all about God's son.

This is a great book for reading to very young children, but even my older boys still like hearing the list of all the things we all enjoy about the season even as they're reminded,

But Jesus is the real reason
We have a Christmas Day!


25 Stories of Advent--December 10

"Do be patient with him," she said to Joseph. "We need him
as much as he needs us."
This made Donkey feel very special indeed. They needed him!

Today we follow Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and we're looking at books from the donkey's perspective. First is All Safe in the Stable by Mig Holder, (Candle Books, 2005). This is a fun book that looks at the journey to Bethlehem with a beaten down donkey purchased by Joseph. While he's glad to be away from his previously unkind owner, the load he has to carry seems to be more than he can handle.His stubborn streak shows itself as he plods along, but when he realizes there's danger ahead for the expectant mother, digging in his heels may be the best thing for everyone.

This detailed story is one that will keep the attention of children who are 6 and older. The contrast between the cruel owner and kind Mary, and the sneaky Rat and the dutiful Donkey add to the drama and convey a message of doing the right thing even when faced with the opportunity and pressure to make a self-serving choice.



The other book for today is An Angel Came to Nazareth, written by Anthony Knott, Illustrated by Maggie Keen (Chronicle Books, 2005). This is a book with a simple, rhyming message that shows an angel appearing to a camel, donkey, horse and ox and giving them the choice of who they will carry on a journey.

"Just one beast from this stall
Will carry into Bethlehem
The greatest of them all."

One by one the animals make their choice, to carry a king, a solider, a good Samaritan, and finally, an expectant mother.
"Now I will choose," the donkey cried,
"Not good or great or tall,
but the lady waiting here 
Who needs bearing most of all."

While the simple telling of the story is lovely, the real charm of this book can only be felt when it's in your hands (this is one case where the e-book can't possibly do it justice). It's printed on cardstock, and each page is embossed and foiled and beautifully illustrated. While your child may need you to read the story to them, this would be a book to put into their hands while you do.


25 Stories of Advent--Great Joy-- December 9

"The week before Christmas, a monkey appeared on the corner of Fifth and Vine. 
He was wearing a green vest and a red hat..." 


I have to admit, I think this is my only Christmas book with a monkey in it. But aside from that unusual element, everything else about it has the look, feel and message of a classic Christmas tale (not to be confused with a monkey tail!). 

The time period and illustrations are reminiscent of "A Miracle on 34th Street." The main character is a young girl who wants to invite the organ grinder and monkey in for dinner after she sees that they sleep on the street, even in the snow. When her mother says no, she finds another way to share "Great joy" with them.

This big, beautiful book is one of those that will have a place of honor among the other Christmas books. From the golden end-papers to the soft, expressive, over-sized illustrations on every page, this book will take you back to the days you sat for story time when you were a child. (And I have yet to be able to read the last page to the boys without finding myself all choked up! It's destined to be a Hallmark Christmas movie.) Because of Winn Dixie and Tale of Despereaux are among DiCamillo's other best-sellers. 

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