A Different Kind of Christmas

It started with the catalogs
Filling the mailbox,
Even before Thanksgiving.
One specific one my daughters pour over,
relentlessly circling EVERYTHING
even if they have two of those already.
It bothered me last year.
This year it made me sick.
And so after they went to bed I threw them all away.
I didn’t feel bad
and they didn’t even notice.
From then on I threw them all away
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All in the trash……
BEFORE they even came in the house.
Emails, too.
DELETE!

And then I wrote this book.
Or really I sat down and typed……hours on end
God poured out his heart for this season…..for families.
My fingers obeyed.
And then I added this at the end

It is my heart that anyone and everyone who wants a copy of my book will get it. If for ANY reason you cannot pay for a download, simply send an email to me saying, “I would like a copy of your Advent book.” No explanation needed. I will happily send you a copy.

I had no idea how much my heart would break,
again
and again.
Five Dollars for a simple book,
a hearts’ desire for their family
and their pockets came up empty.

And as I’m typing the tears are falling
and again my heart is breaking
for people
for families
who are buried in lies
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A baby in a manger
not even a crib to hold Him.
A Savior for the world
who gave everything.
His life
for us to live.

And so instead of buying
we are learning
and teaching them
about Him
and why He came
and how he wants us to live.
And we are giving
to a soldier…..fighting for our freedom,
to a missionary……fighting for their souls,
to our kids in Africa……food, clean water, education
and to each other…..
simple gifts
made with our hands
or the gift of our time
revealing our heart.

I am humbled and truly in awe of how many of you bought my book.  Honestly, I sat down at the keyboard to type and 14 hours later this is basically what came out.  After a few hours of typing I told my husband, “I’m sorry.  I just can’t stop typing.”  So, he played Mr. Mom and God vented everything He wanted to say through me.

My family and I will start this Advent study with you tonight.  I am praying for each and every one of you.  I am certain He will touch all of our hearts as we wait in anticipation, together, for the birth of His Son.  I know you all have already touched mine.

Thank you,