Thursday, December 3, 2009

This Too Is Christmas



The weather people are predicting snow for us tomorrow. SNOW!! I lived up north for the first thirty-six years of my life. When we moved to Texas I considered the possibility that I would never see snow again. After thinking about it for about thirty seconds I decided I was fine with that. So under ordinary circumstances my plan for tomorrow would be to stay strictly indoors, dress warmly and drink lots of hot tea.

However, tomorrow is not an ordinary day. Tomorrow is the day of our annual Christmas Bingo Party. After hearing the forecast I thought perhaps I shouldn't go. After all, Mary's house is a forty minute drive from mine. If the snow should actually amount to something, it could be a very exciting ride home indeed. I sat myself down and had a little talk with....well you know....me. "Linda," I said, "this is the Christmas you've been thinking and praying about. It is spending time with those who are dear to us - giving, not things, but something from the heart."

These women have been a part of my life since the first small group Bible study we attended more years ago than I can count. We are no longer together in that group. Our lives have gone in different directions as our children have gotten older, but on this day every year we gather together.

After the hugs and greetings, the conversation flows as though we had seen each other only a day or so ago. These are friendships built on the foundation of our shared faith. We have laughed, cried and prayed together as we've walked through the best and worst of times. These precious women are my sisters.

So I will venture forth! Actually....knowing how precious this time is for us, my husband has offered to drive me there and my friend's husband also offered to take the day off from work and pick up every one of us and deliver us back home.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Blessings,
Linda