Dear Reader:

If you look at the tiny manger scene (above) for a few moments one quickly realizes that the baby is out of proportion to the manger and the parents. This little “Baby Jesus” ended up in a drawer with Christmas ornaments. It doesn’t fit any of the mangers in my home so there is a mystery where it came from originally.

For most children the figurine of the Baby Jesus is the most popular while playing with mangers under the Christmas tree. I have a feeling one of the grandchildren found this figurine somewhere and took it to look at it and never put it back from some other manger somewhere else. But who knows…another Christmas mystery?

While holding the little figurine, puzzling over it…a connection to a wonderful old movie-for-television came back to me…Mr. Kreuger’s Christmas...a real tear-jerker starring the late Jimmy Stewart. It came out in 1980 and I believe it was one of the last movies Stewart made.

He plays the part of a lonely widower (Willie Kreuger) who recently lost his wife, Martha. He lives in a basement with a cat. It is Christmas Eve and the solitary character is remembering happier times. He goes over to look at a manger in the room and something quite magical happens.

When we feel the Holy Spirit of Christmas, the season takes on a whole new meaning.

On Christmas Eve, Willie walks over to the nativity set on the night table and picks up the porcelain manger holding baby Jesus. He is then transported to the inn where people are gathered around baby Jesus. At this time, Willie realizes that no one can see or hear him except for baby Jesus. In a heartfelt moment he says to Jesus, “Thank you for everything you have done for me. As long as I can remember you have been right by my side. I never forget when you walked with me for those first few hours after I lost Martha. I have always been able to count on you. When I felt dark inside, you were right there every time.”  (Guidepost/Mysterious Ways)

Isn’t this what Christmas is all about…knowing Jesus is “right there every time?” Especially when we need Him the most?

So until tomorrow…In a nutshell isn’t Jesus really ‘the reason for the season?’  Everything else will fade away…tucked in the attics of our old Christmas memories…but Jesus is living and present for us forever…never just a memory.

“Today is my favorite day”

Winnie the Pooh

I rarely get on Facebook anymore…just don’t have time between writing a blog and all the Pre-Christmas activities going on so many of you might have already seen this video but Sarah Moody sent it to me on Messenger and like many thousands of others…I appreciated the message. It was written and acted out by a local church in Charlotte. If you haven’t seen it…take a minute (literally) to do so.

Christmas Video from Local Charlotte Church Goes Viral! – Video

I had an unexpected surprise visit from my wonderful neighbors across the street…Luke and his fiancee, Chelsey. They came bearing gifts, homemade cookies, a wonderful cup for hot chocolate, and a snowbird cardinal for Sammy…(He is famous all over the neighborhood.)

*Luke and Chelsey have a lot to celebrate this Christmas…they just got engaged at Thanksgiving, Chelsey just graduated from Tifton graduate school and they are now in their new house…with Chelsey job hunting. A wonderful Christmas to all!