Peppermint Chai Christmas Eve

   I wish that I had all these posts about Christmas and getting ready for Christmas, but I don't.   The "Innernet," as D. and I call it has been touch and go for the last few weeks.  Sometimes even if it reads five bars it takes ten minutes to log in (and stay in!) and I don't usually have that long!  Brownie and Bud are still doing school and they don't want to focus (can you really blame them?) and BuggaBoo has learned how to crawl, and it takes not only two eyes to watch her constantly, but a whole person to keep her where she needs to be and to make sure she doesn't touch, eat, or throw up on anything she's not supposed to.  It's been a bit..um..demanding.  SO!  That's my story.  I'm stickin' to it. 

   Well, enough chit-chat.  Let's get down to business.  We decorated our tree a few weeks ago, and it's lovely.  It even has a strand of dancing/flashing lights on it!!!  Woo-hoo!  For as far back as I can remember, my family has had a strand of dancing lights to put on the tree, or last year, on the garland.  One of the coziest things for me at Christmas time is to just sit and watch them.  They mesmorize me.  Personally I hate how every tree you can buy in the States is pre-lit.  I mean, seriously?  Part of the fun of getting out the tree is watching and helping Dad struggle with untangling and testing the lights.  Then you get to put them on together as a family.  It's a team effort, and it's so rewarding!  Pre-lit trees are the pits.  You plug them in--ding!  All the lights are on, and they're just...on.  No flashing, no dancing, no slow fade.  Entirely without character.  Or personality.

   How in the world did I get onto that tangent?  Haha!  I don't feel strongly about it or anything!  Ahem, right.  Moving on.  I just finished wrapping my little presents for the family.  It's not much, really...if we had big stores and shopping malls nearby I would just love to run out and buy everyone lots of super nice things, but...we don't.  *Sigh*  I know Christmas isn't about presents, but I sure would love to just give crazily and wildly and watch their faces in the morning!  Jesus was right when He said it was more blessed to give than to recieve.

   It's getting so cold!  Jack Frost waited until December 21st to come this year!  But now that he's here, he is definitely here to stay!  I'm dressed in layers, and I'm wearing my hat in the house! 
   I am surrounded by poverty here in India.  So many people around me are cold, and they can't get warm.  I think of the village women here in their mud homes.  They're cold all the time, and their children are cold all the time.  They take cold baths outdoors, since they have no way to heat water.  They can't bundle up, or eat or drink something hot, or snuggle under wool blankets at night.  I can't imagine what it's like for the mothers to put all the clothes on their children and know that they are still cold.  I can't imagine feeling cold and hungry all the time, but that is their life in the wintertime.  It makes me look at all the things I have and think, "I live like a queen.  I have everything I could possibly need and so much more!" 

   I asked S. yesterday how she didn't get depressed with seeing all the need around her.  Obviously, you want to just rush to help everyone...but you can't.  You really can't.  So what do you do? 
   She thought for a moment, and she said, "Well, you cannot help everyone.  But you can't let yourself get cynical and think, 'Well, if I can't help everyone I won't help anyone!' "  She said, "You just look for the people around you and think, 'This person has a need.  What can I do to help meet it?'  And keep an open hand and an open heart.  All this stuff that I have isn't really mine at all.  I'm a steward.  It isn't mine to keep.  What can I give of it to bless someone else?' "
  
   Simple truth. Again, not easy, simple.  There is no easy answer to a question like that.  But I think the idea is to have an attitude of service, and a open heart who is willing to share.  Then I think God will guide us through the circumstances and specifics.  That is what I hope He will do for me--for the rest of my life! 

   This last week before Christmas I've really been missing my family.  I catch myself thinking about them all the time.  I keep wanting to say things to them, and feeling frustrated that a finicky computer is my only way to check up on them.  This is my first Christmas away from my family.  I've always known Christmas to be a time when many people feel torn between loved ones and friends, but this is my first time to really feel that way.  I love you, my family!  I miss you all! 

   I'm craving peppermint.  Each morning I think, "I sure would love a cup of sweet hot peppermint tea!"  But get this:  I wish I had some candy canes. 

*GASP*

   When I was little, every year I ended up getting candy canes right before Christmas.  You know, from Sunday School teachers and random people at church; that kind of thing.  I always felt a little exasperated at that because I didn't really like them that much.  They took so long to eat, too!  And I knew that for the next whole year when I looked into my can of where I kept my stash of candy I would find broken candy cane bits when I was craving chocolate...tragic.  But now I would like some candy canes.   I could grind them up and put them into my chai each morning.  Peppermint sounds wonderful right about now, even if it isn't chocolate. 

   I'm excited about tomorrow.  Not the way the children are.  I don't care what I get for Christmas.  I'm excited to give my little gifts to people.  I hope they like them.  They aren't much, but they're from my heart. 

   Isn't it wonderful?  God gave His very best for us.  His Son.  He didn't hold Him back when He had every right to.  And Jesus volunteered to come to earth---to pay for our wickedness and rebellion against Himself.  Scripture says He did not "count equality with God a thing to be grasped."

   What?

   He was God, and He had a perfect, joyus relationship with His Father, and with the Holy Spirit.  And yet He chose to come to earth as a servant...and as a ransom?  To pay for ungrateful, selfish people like us?  He wanted to bring us into a restored relationship with Himself and with His Father.  He loves us that much.  He gave His life, and then He rose up again and will one day return as King over all.  He promised that anyone who came to Him and asked for mercy because of His atonement could be His child, and that He would save them from His coming anger and judgement of sin.  He has made me His daughter.  How could I do any less than pour out my life for Him, since He held nothing back for me? 

   Seeing poverty here in my face reminded me that Jesus was born into poverty.  He wasn't born in a palace with servants all around.  It was humbling enough for Jesus the Prince of Heaven to come as a helpless, toothless, crying baby.  But He was born into poverty, into shame, into hardship.  He came giving a blessing wherever He went, and people rejected Him and eventually got so enraged against Him that they howled for His blood.  Why did He choose that?  For love.  Love for rebels and unkind, ungrateful people like me and you.  The Prince of Heaven became poor.  That fills me with awe.  And with gratitude.  If Christ loves me like that than why am I afraid of anything in this life? 

   He loves you like that.  If you don't know Him, than please pray to Him and ask Him to forgive you because of His sacrifice.  He will if you ask Him!! 

   Sooo.  Hope this post hasn't been too cliche.  That's what's on my heart.  Here's a song I'd like to share with you.  "Peppermint Winter," by Owl City. 

           Merry Christmas to you all! :D

~Cadenza