Merry CHRISTmas!

It’s Christmas time in the Grommon House.

 In days gone by, I would write almost scathing letters and mail them out with our Christmas cards reminding the folks on my mailing list what this season was all about. That all those years ago a child was born to die for their sins, to die for my sins, and to remind them that the focus should be on that and not so much the gift giving. 

As I’ve grown and matured though I’ve come to realize that the child born all those years ago WAS the gift. His life has taught me so much about grace, and what it means to be gracious to others that looking back I am ashamed of my behavior. I imagine Him shaking His head, saying, ‘My child you just don’t get it’. Yet, I know that even in my failures He is glorified.

Today, as I run into Christians trapped in similar patterns, I want to shake them to wake them up, but I know that shaking them will not wake them, because shaking me would not have woken me. Only steady grace applied to my heart by a living Savior will.

I AM human of course, and as such I still struggle with my own sinful thoughts, and I become frustrated and expect people to hurry it up already. But God…

Two of my favorite words in the WHOLE Bible…

He didn’t give up on me in the midst of my own legalism, and in fact even used it as He promises for MY good.  “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

So in my weakness I pray for those trapped in theirs…I do the right thing, even when I don’t ‘feel’ like it, because that’s what I am called to do. Not my will but HIS.

This morning as I sat among the twinkling lights of our tree, reflecting on the conversations of the week, I was thankful. Thankful for where I’ve been, thankful for where I am, and thankful for each person in my life, at this very moment. God has placed YOU here, in my life, for a reason, and I’m praying for you.

Merry Christmas from my heart to yours!