Holidays

If some fiction writers had penned the Christmas story, they may have had Jesus born in a palace, attended by servants, and laid on soft pillows. Instead, the reality of how love came down at Christmas includes childbirth in a stable, where Mary was attended, as far as we know, only by Joseph. When the Christ Child entered the world, He was placed in a manger, a trough that held animals’ food. You can be sure the stable’s dirt and smells were typical of a place occupied by animals.

“Merry Christmas!” we say in the United States. “Joyeux Noel!” exclaim the French. The Brits say, “Happy Christmas!” “Frohe Weihnachten!” echoes throughout Germany. And “Feliz Navidad!” can be heard in many countries. No matter how you say it, when it comes to Christmas the world over, we all share the same idea. Christmas is a time for joy. Feeling joyous in December is downright human. If you’re not happy at Christmas, you may as well be Mr. Scrooge himself.

Are your presents already wrapped and neatly stacked under the tree? Or are you feeling a bit frantic and behind this year? Wherever you’re at in your Christmas shopping timeline—whether just beginning or looking for those final stocking stuffers—Warner Christian Resources would like to help you check a few names off your list.

The young corporal, only 19, faced the biggest decision of his life. Surrounded by German soldiers, his commanding officer dead, and suddenly in charge of his unit, he asked himself, “Do we keep fighting or surrender and hopefully live to fight another day?”

As I grew in my faith and experience as a mother, I also grew in my maturity as a believer. My thoughts evolved. Here are some key points I learned and which you may want to consider as you think through a conversation about Halloween in your family.

A clue on Jeopardy stated: “This document ends, ‘We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.’” Much to my disappointment, none of the three bright players knew the answer—the Declaration of Independence.

Perhaps you know the backstory of the Declaration. Colonists were fed up with King George III’s arrogant, dismissive attitude toward those who settled on this side of the Atlantic. When British troops fired on farmers and tradesmen in Massachusetts, something needed to be done.

Unless you are an avid student of American history, you may not know that Corregidor was a battle from World War II. Or that Trenton was a battle during the Revolutionary War. Or that the Battle of Antietam was fought during the American Civil War. Or that the American Navy defeated Spanish forces in the Spanish-American War at Manila Bay in the Philippines. Or that the Battle of Belleau Wood occurred in France during World War I.

But now, in this era of Stay at Home to Flatten the Curve, I have, quite enjoyably, resumed sending greeting cards. Several weeks ago, my daughters and I wrote cards to my sisters, my nieces, and my parents, for no particular reason other than to give them a nice surprise in this COVID-19 crisis. Then I sent cards to my aunts.

I love Easter eggs. I love hiding them. I love decorating them. And I collect them. I even learned to make Ukrainian eggs—decorating via a wax resist method and using dye—although I’m not very good at it. When I was in the grocery store—just as COVID-19 fears ramped up—I couldn’t find any eggs to buy. My first thought concerned baking. My second thought, “What if we don’t have eggs available to decorate for Easter this year?” I realize that’s not very important compared to the far more serious issues we are facing. But sometimes it’s the little things, you know?

What lessons can we draw from the life of St. Patrick? For one thing, what seems like a tragedy may actually be an opportunity for spiritual advancement. Most people would not choose the lonely life of a shepherd, but Patrick used it as a time for spiritual discovery and deepening. Some people may hesitate and retreat in the face of danger, but Patrick exemplifies a courage that should inspire all of us. By God’s grace we can be faithful, even though our friends, neighbors, and even family members sometimes disagree with our beliefs.