{"id":1457,"date":"2016-12-23T14:06:46","date_gmt":"2016-12-23T20:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/belovedlove.org\/reflections\/?p=1457"},"modified":"2019-05-17T13:44:34","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T18:44:34","slug":"christmas-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belovedlove.org\/reflections\/2016\/12\/23\/christmas-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Christmas Stories<\/h1>\n

by\u00a0Letitia Suk<\/em><\/h3>\n

I have a large pile of Christmas books, because I like to read other people\u2019s stories. Usually, they center on\u00a0a situation with a sticky problem. then a miraculous solution that shows up, at almost the last minute. Do you like those, too?<\/p>\n

You and I have our own tales of Christmas, too, like the \u201cGhosts of Christmas Past.\u201d Maybe not as dramatic, but no less precious. I started keeping a \u201cChristmas Journal\u201d about thirty years ago, as a place to hold all my stories, but the best ones I know by heart.<\/p>\n

Some of my memorable Christmas moments didn\u2019t start out all cozy, but more like crazy<\/em>, or even disastrous. Quite a few, in fact. Sometimes, the solution was a little slow to show up. Funny, how we don\u2019t remember the uneventful ones nearly as well!<\/p>\n

Some Christmas memories are almost quirky. \u00a0Like my earliest and best Christmas memory is a smell<\/i>:\u00a0 the plastic-y smell of a new doll, as every year one showed up under the tree. I still<\/em> love the smell of new shower curtains, because it is exactly the same scent!<\/p>\n

But there are different kinds of memories we can pull up this time of year\u2026<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

In the great Magnificat, or Mary\u2019s Song, as recorded in Luke, that we read or hear every year, there is one lin, that melts me every time: \u201cFor the Mighty One has done Great Things for me, Holy is His name.\u201d (\u00a0Luke 1:49)<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat Things He Has Done,\u201d wow! \u00a0I can say with Mary, great things He has done for me, too. I bet you can, too.<\/p>\n

What great things are in your storybook? <\/i><\/b>Not just from Christmas-time, but from all times of your life.<\/p>\n

The Bible reminds us often to remember. “Only be careful and watch yourselves closely, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart, as long as you live. Teach<\/i> <\/i>them to your children and to their children after them.”<\/i> (Deut 4:9)<\/p>\n

Do you have memories of God\u2019s power?\u00a0 His faithfulness?\u00a0 His provision?\u00a0 Great things He has done in your family? I hope you are nodding your head.<\/p>\n

Can you remember the first thing God did for you? I wrote about my first memory in \u201cGetaway with God.\u201d I\u2019ll give you a hint, it is about a bird.<\/p>\n

At an Advent retreat years ago, the facilitator sent us for an hour of alone time, to answer that question: What are the \u201cgreat things\u201d He has done? Turned out to be one of the most powerful lists I have ever made.<\/p>\n

Try something fun this season, and set aside some time to name all the things God has done for you, in this last year, month, day, so far. If you\u2019ve got a little more time, go back as far as you can.\u00a0 You can even sit by your tree and sip hot cocoa while you compose your list \u263a<\/p>\n

Maybe your memories won\u2019t end up nicely packaged on someone\u2019s coffee table (they might!), but you can re-read your own favorite storybook anytime. It is always right at hand.<\/p>\n

And this story never ends.<\/p>\n

Letitia Suk,\u00a0author of\u00a0 <\/i>Getaway with God: The Everywoman’s Guide to Personal Retreat<\/i><\/a>. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/i>c. Letitia Suk 2016\/Letitiasuk.com<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank you, Tish, for \u201cguest blogging\u201d this week! Merry Christmas, all! May God\u2019s love fill your life to overflowing in this coming year!\u00a0 Lydia<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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