Every once in a while I read a post, and when I’m through…all I can say is, “Wow!” This is one of those posts for me: What Cancer Can’t Do, from Wanda at Apples-Zeros. We get so tied up in the busy, hectic lives we live that often we don’t take time to stop and think about what truly matters in our lives!

• “He who holds his tongue is wise.” Proverbs 10:19 (Keeps a person from putting their foot in their mouth.)
• “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18 (Harsh words can pierce someone’s heart, but wise words will bring healing to a relationship.)
  
• “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 (A soft answer makes it easier for the listener to hear what is actually being said rather than reacting to harsh words or a harsh voice.)
• “A person finds joy in giving an appropriate reply, and how good is a timely word.” Proverbs 15:23 (The right words said at the right time are good, and we can be happy about it. Sometimes we need to wait for the right time to say certain things.)
• “The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.” Proverbs 16:21 (Want to instruct someone or help them understand what you mean? Use pleasant words to get your point across.)
• “A word appropriately spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Proverbs 25:11 (Words that are appropriate are going to be thought out, not a just a spur of the moment reaction that will stir up anger.)
• “A gentle tongue can break a bone.” Proverbs 25:15 (A gentle tongue is not weak. A gentle answer can accomplish a lot.)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body

and nourishment to your bones.”

(NIV) Proverbs 3:5-8

“The proverbs of Solomon…

for attaining wisdom and discipline;

for understanding words of insight;

for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,

doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to the simple

knowledge and discretion to the young-

let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance-

for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.”

(NIV) Proverbs 1:1-6 

Dear Readers, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Our family had a wonderful Christmas together. We had Christmas Eve dinner at M’s house. We were all together: my husband, our daughter & son-in-law & Baby J, our son, “M” who is our son-in-law’s mother, and his sister. Then we had dinner on Christmas Day at our house.

Last Christmas Eve, we found out the wonderful news about our daughter expecting a baby. And now this Christmas Eve, we talked about the awesome blessing and joy that four month old Baby J is bringing to our lives.

As I sat rocking my precious grandson to sleep, I thought about how over two thousand years ago Mary rocked her baby Jesus to sleep. One of my favorite Christmas songs says it this way, “Mary rocked her savior to sleep.” Mary must have had so many thoughts going through her head as she rocked her precious bundle of joy. She must have relived her encounter with the angel Gabriel who told her she would have a baby who would be the son of the Most High. She probably relived her visit with the shepherds who came and shared with her and with Joseph about the angels visit with them in the field where they were told “good news of great joy.” This young mother, Mary, had the most awesome experience that any mother could have…rocking and cuddling her precious baby who would bring good news and great joy to the whole world.

I see a lot of Christmas cards that have the word “Peace” on them. Peace is something that people wish we had in this world and something that people want in their own personal life. There is a peace that is so special to me, a peace that no matter what is happening in the world….it’s always there. The Bible tells me about that peace and says not to be anxious or worry about anything, but pray about everything, and thank God as requests are being made to Him. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, keeps my heart and my mind in Christ.

That tiny little baby named Jesus Christ, who was born over two thousand years ago, brought a peace to this world that is beyond human understanding. I am so thankful for that gift of peace.

Here’s what happened that Holy Night. I invite you to read below first and then listen to the song. Click to listen to Oh, Holy Night ~ It’s very special to me, and I would like to share it with you.

Luke 2:1-14
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirin’i-us was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn..

8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”
RSV (from Biblesoft PC Study Bible, Version 3)
I like to imagine the above passage as I’m listening to this song.

Nearly all my friends agree…the month of December is just too hectic. Sometimes there is so much to do that a person can feel overwhelmed! There’s all the shopping and more shopping, setting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house, desserts and festive dishes to make for parties and dinners, endless events to attend, some last minute item to go out and shop for, Christmas cards galore to write and address (every year our list gets bigger), and then on top of all of that there’s housecleaning for company that’s coming to visit. It can be extremely overwhelming!

What helps me the most during this hectic time is a verse from the Bible in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” That’s it, pure and simple. Just be still…be still…be still…and know God. I pray that we can go to a quiet place, all by ourselves, and know the glory and wonder of Christmas…what Christmas is all about: the love of God shown to us when he sent his only, precious Son to this earth as a tiny baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Be still…and know God.

(Psalms 46 was my mother’s favorite.)

There are several Christmas songs that have “joy” in their lyrics such as the well known song, Joy to the World. So what does this mean to me in my life? It means that I have a joy that doesn’t come from this world, a joy that can’t be taken away from me. It doesn’t come from things I own, how many clothes I have hanging in my closet,or what kind of car I drive. It comes from knowing that Christ came to this world and took my place on the cross. He was an innocent little baby when he was born in the stable and slept in the manger, and He was just as innocent when he died on the cross for my sins. I’ve been given the most awesome gift there could ever be, and that fills me with joy.

Our Thanksgiving holidays were full of blessings! It’s always wonderful to be with family, but this year was extra special for us because we had Baby J, who is at that cute 3 1/2 month old age where he’s noticing people and smiling at them. Two special times for me were when I fed him his bottle and he fell asleep in my arms. I loved every minute of it! I thought about our own children, when they were babies, how they’ve grown, and the blessings they are in our lives, too.