The Gifts I Can Give This Christmas…

     Normally this time of the year, I am shifting into overdrive trying to get ready for Christmas. Several projects usually occupy my attention, like setting up and decorating the tree, replacing the fall colors around the house with reds and greens, putting strings of colored lights on various shrubs and trees in the front yard, baking, planning a birthday party for Jesus…

      The list of “things to do” is long and time consuming, but enjoyable. Oh, then there is Christmas shopping, an important part of the holiday season, or so the retailers would have us believe.

      Things are a little different for the Lowerys this year, however. On December 6^th, Al had his second ankle surgery, this time to replace the worn out joint and to remove the screws from an unsuccessful fusion in September, 2012.

      After sitting in the waiting room the greater part of the day, it was good news to hear the doctor say that he was very happy with the surgery. The insertion of the new Salto joint went smoothly, taking about three and a half hours for the whole procedure. According to the surgeon, the hardest part of the operation was removing the two screws, one of which had broken after the first surgery.

       Al spent two nights in the hospital afterwards and was discharged late Sunday afternoon with orders to stay off the ankle for 6 weeks. We drove home the next day, switching from our normal routine with Al as the chief driver to me. It was a long, but smooth ride with no problems.

        Just after arriving home, our neighbor, Bob, came by to see if he could help unload the car. Not only did he carry things into the house for me, he also took Al’s “knee walker” out of the box and put it together. What a relief! Before long, Al was riding on his new scooter, getting around much easier than he had with the regular walker.

         Besides the extra help from Bob, another family in the neighborhood brought over dinner on Tuesday night. There have been several others offering to help with meals too. This is all so greatly appreciated!

        Yes, things are different this year. There might not be time to finish my “Christmas” list or to do very much shopping, but I’ve been thinking of a few gifts that I can give to Jesus in celebration of His birthday.

        Since we are going to be staying close to home, I can give Jesus the gift of time. I can spend more time praying and listening to His voice. I can also choose to put my agenda on hold in order to sit and visit with my husband and with people who drop by or who call on the phone, letting Jesus show His love for them through me.

        Another birthday gift is to honor Him by serving others with an obedient and joyful heart; and a third is to praise Him throughout the day and into the night hours too. Christmas songs can play on my inner “iPod” no matter where I am or what I am doing.    

        There…three beautiful gifts to offer to Jesus during this season: time, service, praise. Let’s make that four…LOVE!

“Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! Then praise His name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.”  "O Holy Night," originally by Adolphe Adam 1847 (Wikipedia)    

(published in the Porterville Recorder 12/14/13)