These Things I Will Do

At the Farmhouse, 

I never put decorations on this particular tree. 

Just lights, 

only lights.

I have enjoyed the cozy glow.

I've loved it this way.

And in the night, 

in those pondering hours, 

all the colors, 

the sparkle, 

the different facets and reflections of light,

make me think of the days gone by

and the days ahead.

I can't change the past.

I can only hope to shape the future by living well now,

this very moment. 

We don't get repeats, 

or chances to make up for lost time

or past regret. 

On Christmas eve

 we took a gift to a person

we feared would have no contact 

with anyone on Christmas.  

Just this morning

a man told me his sad

sad

story.

The "story" was probably

a grand total of 10 sentences,

but those 10 sentences wrote a book in my heart. 

I was stunned.

I was almost rendered speechless.

I had never heard such a real life story. 

And once again I realized that we never know the 

pain that crouches just below the surface

of quick wit

or the grief hidden in a smile. 

I've heard of so much sorrow

this Christmas season 

as people have told me their heartache. 

And my heart has ached along side them. 

I wish I could rewrite their story 

with the stroke of a pen 

and the flourish of my hand

and make it pretty.

But a baby,

a baby came,

helpless,

and frail 

and he was laid 

right down 

in the middle of all our messes,

yes, 

my messes

my heartache, 

my darkness, 

and pondering.

And YOUR messes too.

Your heartache, 

and darkness

and pondering. 

But the baby, 

the helpless and frail baby,

was strong

 and

 HE was mighty.

And with the stroke of three nails

with a flourish

his hands

and feet

rewrote my story!

And he rewrote your story too!

You may not think it looks very pretty, 

but he wrote it to bring peace. 

Peace for me

Peace for you

Peace for all 

And as a new year dawns, 

I realize

"You and I may be hard pressed on every side,

but we are not in despair, abandoned or destroyed". 
2 Corinthians 4:8

So I will celebrate with joy. 

I will pray more intensely with thanksgiving.

And I will keep your stories close to my heart. 

Because your stories matter to me. 

These things I will do.