Kathy Weckwerth

Everyday Encouragement

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That Christmas Feeling

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P1040942That Christmas Feeling, By Kathy A. Weckwerth

It’s that time of year when people are looking for the inevitable Christmas trappings that help them to feel like they are holding onto special Christmas feelings and emotions … the same ones they experienced as a child.

As I baked Christmas sugar cookies for the get-together at our little church in the grove, I was excited for the season of baking.  And then I overbrowned a pan and ran out of blue sprinkles for the snowmen.  I couldn’t find that feeling in baking.

Next, I put my Carpenter’s Christmas CD on, while Jenessa and I decorated the tree.  With my granddaughter Cordelia taking all of the ornaments out and carrying them around, pulling them apart and anxiously trying to hang them up herself.   I couldn’t find that feeling in decorating.

Farmer Dean raced outside to the church to set up the nativity set and deck the trees with lights and holly.  It was beautiful.  The scene was well lit, the church looked sweet, but I couldn’t find that feeling in seeing the outside lights.

While I did the dishes, I turned on the tv set in time to see “It’s a Wonderful Life” airing.  I washed pots and pans while listening to George Bailey moping about and wishing he never existed.  By the time I got to Mr. Potter being mean and keeping the bank’s funds, I felt a sinking feeling.  I couldn’t find that feeling in Christmas specials.

On Monday, I traveled south to Iowa.  What was I thinking!  I got caught in a blizzard just inside the Iowa border.  As I clutched the steering wheel, I listened to every quiet piano playing Christmas carol known to man … along with a few tunes from The Partridge Family, The Grinch, and She Daisy, but in the music, I couldn’t find that feeling in Christmas CDs.

As I arrived in my hometown, I pulled in the driveway, looked at the town’s lights, made a walk down memory lane by visiting with old friends and seeing old sites, but nothing could give me that feeling … you know the one … that sense that all is right with the world and Christmas has arrived without any efforts of your own.

On my way home, I made several stops at stores while I picked up little things for the family and watched the hustle and bustle of people picking out Christmas trees, purchasing turkeys, and buying Christmas cards.  Nothing did it for me.  Nothing.  I could not, I would not create the feeling that I embraced as a child.

Until something happened.  On Friday night, I pulled in my own driveway and made plans for getting the church set for the Christmas carol and cookie night on Saturday.  When Saturday night arrived at the little church, there was excitement in the air as I greeted each and every visitor through the church doors.

I had made Christmas punch and observed the frothy red sherbet floating on top of the bowl. A variety of cookies were displayed on big trays, while people filed in chatting, laughing, and hugging one another.  With the small group of about 30, I began to welcome them, commenting on cookie plates, Christmas sweaters, as they commented on the little church and how dressed up it was for Christmas.

I sat down at the piano and started the night off with a solo.  The words began to melt like winter snow on a warm spring day … right through my soul.  “I need a silent night, a holy night, to hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise.”  And then I prayed.

But what happened, you’re asking!  I looked out and I listened.  I just stopped and listened to the voices singing song after song … carol after carol.  “Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King, ” and ” It came upon a midnight clear that glorious song of old …” and there it was.  Voices intermingled with good will, smiles, camaraderie,  and with the ending of each song, my granddaughter stood up, clapped and yelled “yeah!”

That feeling had arrived!  As many of my congregation shared Christmas memories, the feelings deepened as I allowed myself to remember the many good things of years gone by and all was well.  Not just in my heart and mind … but that Christmas spirit flooded my soul.

[callout]Look for it.  You’ll find it.  Maybe not on tv, or in the mall … perhaps not in your car or in your kitchen … but you will find the Christmas spirit when you seek the Spirit Himself. [/callout]

Peace on earth … goodwill towards men.

 

2 Sides of the Fence

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Over the years and career of this path I’ve been on, the one called My Life, I have settled into the cool feel of grassy blades tickling my toes, while standing on that carved out path.  I have also felt the bite of rugged stones and sticks that have jabbed into my toes, reminding me that my side is not grassy and lush that day.   But for this day, I want to tell you about the fence. 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIn every life we have a fence.  It’s a fence that separates you from them, me from her, them from others, and we all experience being on the path and looking across that old wooden fence to see what’s happening on the other side. 

During my years at church ministry, I often saw the needs of so many, and watched how the pastors and staff would support … or would not. 

Elderly would call up needing a ride to the doctor and the secretary would arrange a ride.  Or a woman in need of financial support, going through a divorce crisis with her many children would call up and they would chastise her for her decision and begrudgingly send over a small check for gas, while the children were living on bread and peanut butter. 

I have stood on my side of the fence peering across the rough tops of each of its posts as someone has asked me for financial help, and I reached into my pocket for a few small bills, while another soul wrote and begged for yearly support and I tossed it in the garbage. 

And yet, at times, I have stood on my side of the fence, in my bare feet, cut and bleeding from the travels and begged for others to support me, only to find generous checks and large boxes of chocolate chip cookies, or a mere click of their computer keyboard to say, “Sorry … uh, uh.” 

The path continues.  The journey twists and turns and as I get older I watch to see what happens when someone who has much on the green grassy fields of their side of the fence steps up to the fencepost to say yes or no to that certain traveler on the muddy, rugged, rough side.  I listen and I watch.  

At times, I am pleased and I can feel my Father saying, “They chose wisely.”  And at other times I am in awe at the selfishness and haphazard responses of those who can help but will not. 

Yesterday I found myself at the fence.  I reached into my pocket to pull out a few dollars of financial support and a few moments of prayer support.  I wished that I could do more.  I could not.  I did what I could and gave all I could give. 

Today, I found myself at the fence.  I reached out to someone and said this need is bigger than our resources for our ministry.  They looked me square in the face and turned and walked away. The chose not to help. 

What happens when God calls us to meet at the fence?  What happens when He says I need you to help someone?  How do we respond? 

When we look at the book of Esther 4:13, Queen Esther is challenged by her cousin, Mordecai.  He needs her to go before King Xerxes to try to save the Jews from being killed by Haman and his evil plans.   

With Queen Esther on one side and Mordecai on the other, Mordecai simply says this, “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.”  

God does not need us to stand at the fence dumbfounded.  We do not need to look at our ragged and torn shoes and dry ground and look across at the neighbors lovely lush field and his brand new boots and not wonder if God wants them to help us, or us to help others.  

When we are asked to help someone, we have the choice, as Esther did.  And if we do not respond, and turn and walk away, God tells us simply that He is the Ultimate provider, but in Esther’s circumstances, it’s quite clear she will lose out on the blessing of helping, as God will give that blessing to someone else. 

Where are we today on our path?  Are you looking across at a need that your friend or neighbor has?  Perhaps it’s a neighboring church or ministry that needs you or something you have to offer.  But you stare them down and walk away. 

Or maybe it’s you in need and you’re begging God for provisions, but that someone He has sent to you says, “No.” 

Will we miss out on that blessing?  Will the relief and deliverance arise from another place because we were not obedient? 

Today, I have my eyes wide open.  I’ve tied my shoelaces and I’m hiking the path.  Will I need help?  Probably.  Will my neighbor?  Most likely. 

[callout]But the real question is this … will I watch and listen for God, who is gently calling me to the fence post?  Because somehow, somewhere, in the face of that someone in need, I see the face of Jesus.[/callout]

About Kathy

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[styled_image size=”medium” align=”left” link=”#” icon=”zoom” lightbox=”no” alt=”Welcome to Kathy Weckwerth’s site”]https://kathyweckwerth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/speaker.jpg[/styled_image]Kathy is the Founder & Executive Director of Best Life Ministries, an author, a speaker, and a worship leader. Her passion is to encourage women everywhere that in their day-in-day-out world, God meets them and loves them.

Why Contact Kathy Weckwerth to speak or lead worship at your event? After a violent attack on Kathy’s middle daughter, she took a step back and evaluated her life. No longer did it seem her calling was only to lead worship on Sundays, but instead she asked God for help to pursue something that would redirect, uplift, and encourage the hearts of women everywhere so that they would have a deeper love for God, a stronger desire to be their best, and a journey that allowed them to embrace freedom in Christ.

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Kathy’s Blog

Read encouraging thoughts about the everyday life in the grove, with Kathy, her family, her staff and her church, as she learns Life-Lessons.

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About Kathy

Claim the life promised in John 10:10b: “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

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Book Kathy

With a heart for today’s women, and a love for encouraging, Kathy delivers inspiration to help women in their everyday walk.

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[quote cite=”Pastor Ralph Gustafson, Vice President Constituent Relations, Bethel University”]“Kathy created and leads a ministry for women known as Best Life. She is a woman of integrity, humility, creativity, and Christ-like character. I highly recommend her and encourage you to consider using her to minister to the women of your church and community.”
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