Dear Reader:

I remember my children almost always got the same part in the Christmas Nativity program each year….they were shepherds. In fact…after a couple of years of this…I just started putting old robes in a bag along with an attached neck-tie to be ready for the next Christmas pageant.

Shepherd roles have been unfairly looked down upon in their importance to the Christmas pageant I believe. Even my own children would return after the roles had been given out…and say rather sadly…“Shepherd again.” The big roles, like Mary and Joseph were usually called out first…then some angels, the Three Wise Men (Tommy did get one of those roles one year) and everyone else was a shepherd. (I was secretly happy…I already had the robes and neck-ties ready….wouldn’t have to go hunting for myrrh or any other odd concoction .)

One year, though, Walsh decided to wear an old pair of Dee Dee’s pj’s rolled up…(which would have worked okay since they were pretty “bloomy” on him) but I had a hard time convincing him that the “golf” cap just didn’t quite go with the shepherd theme. He sure did love that cap…I think it was attached to his hair.

As I continue growing up (Thank you Lord!)  leaving quiet time in my day becomes more and more important to me. I call it my “Pause for a Cause”…time to re-group and keep my priorities straight. I need some time to talk to God about life in general.

Shepherds were pretty much loners….you wouldn’t see them “hamming” it up at the annual office party….in fact you probably wouldn’t even see them at the party…since they were uncomfortable in social situations.

Quinn Caldwell (“All I Want”) provides this insight into a shepherd’s life with humor and an interesting twist.

“Shepherds in Jesus’ day weren’t known for their gregariousness or for the extent of their social networks. They spent days, weeks at a time with no company but their flocks and their predators. When they came back from the range or down from the hills, they were known for their awkwardness, even standoffishness. I assume they didn’t show up at worship that often. 

And yet, when they heard what had happened, they went running to find the baby and his parents. And not only that, they told everyone they met what had happened. They didn’t hide out in comfortable solitude; they went right to the center of the action. Sooner or later they had to go back to the fields, but it’s hard to imagine they were quite the same when they went back as they had been when they came. 

So until tomorrow…Quinn concludes his commentary by saying that even human loners are called back to church by the Christmas Story…it is a strong pull, a yearning in each of us to follow the star back home.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Happy Birthday to my Kringle (Walsh) Dingle who was born on December 23rd and returned home on Christmas Day. What a special gift to receive at Christmas…the kind that keeps on giving…

This photo was taken on Walsh’s first birthday…was delighted to find  (beside seeing mother in it)….Aunt Pap....she and Walsh share the same birthday so HAPPY BIRTHDAY WALSH AND PAP!!! WE LOVE YOU BOTH! (How about my “winged” hair-do…cute, huh?…I was ready for take-off!)

*If you didn’t catch this hilarious four minute video on selling a home and the role the St. Joseph figurine plays in doing so….I beg you to take a minute and watch…I was laughing until tears came down!

*My brother, Ben, called me last night and he has suffered a “mini-stroke” of some type…he couldn’t remember the technical term but a neighbor was able to get him to the hospital in time and he was given what they call the “miracle pill” which can reverse the effects of a stroke. They had been running all kinds of tests yesterday and were keeping him overnight for observation and to get the results of the tests.

Ben sounded good on the phone…no slurring or anything, but again we just don’t know until he hears back today from the doctor -please keep him in your prayers as we await test results. We are hoping and praying for the best results for him!