"Go, tell it on the mountain"

In another time and in another place, the Huffingham had a maid whose name was Pecola. She did the ironing and sang as she worked.  Both my sister, Cindy and I loved to hear her singing - especially at Christmas. I  can just hear her singing "Go, tell it on the mountain". 

I tried to get Cindy to sing that song with me recently.  She said it would make her cry.

As we remembered that time in our lives I realized the reason I like that particular song.

Your first clue should be in the word  "tell."

I have never been accused of being quiet.  Nobody ever told me, but I am probably not even quiet when I sleep.

I just always have a story - or some words that I think are important to share - or something good (or bad) that's happening and my favorite way to share is with a pen or keyboard.

And yes - a cell phone.

You know the ones that you can use to TEXT.

I have a couple of friends who text me (and I them) just to say hello - as a reminder that we care and are praying and sending good wishes toward the other.  This is an everyday occurrence!

I love group texts.  That's because I can share the information succinctly and know that everyone gets what I have shared.   Sometimes the news is good.  My high school friends and I learned together when the first great-grandbaby in our group was born.  Sometimes it is of concern and a request for prayer like when my friend Mary Jo texted our prayer group to say she had taken a bad fall and couldn't host the dinner we had planned for that evening.  This week, my siblings and I texted about our brother's in-laws who are ill and my children and I texted about Christmas plans and presents.

I think my children prefer texting because I usually have fewer words.

So here we are - a few days before Christmas 2018.

And we can talk about a text...the most important text that has ever been written.

If I  try, I can almost recite those words --- "And it came to pass, in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. . .".  Don't depend on me...look it up for yourself in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2. Count the times the concept of "telling" is used.

The innkeeper said "no room";  the Angels had a story; the shepherds told each other "let's go see"; and then they made abroad what they had seen (that means they talked about it).

Only Mary remained quiet.  (Luke  2:19).  Hum, there might be a lesson there!

May your life be filled with enough Sunshine 

to make you appreciated the Shadows

The stocking are hung. . .

You don't have to be in my presence for more than about 10 minutes before I am telling you my latest adventure as a grandmother.

There is absolutely no way to ever explain how I feel about those 7 bundles of joy that I am blessed to include as my second favorite things about life.  Of course, I have those grands because of the first favorite thing.

When I was putting out my Christmas decorations, I was happy to find this.  For the 18th year, it hangs on the shelf with other significant stockings that have been a part of my life for many years.   One of them held a $100 bill, a gift from a friend who still remains among my dearest although we rarely communicate much less see each other - just know we share a love that is very special.  I digress.

As I hung the stockings and pulled the one that says "GRAND," I loved texting Abbie by now a Freshman in college to tell her how special she is to me. Her birth in 2000 was the beginning of this extraordinary life as a grandmother.  Each one holds a special place in my heart.

This past Fall, grandchild #4, the one I call Terrific, has spent many Saturdays with me.  We have enjoyed pizza, talking about his schoolwork, and playing various games.  He loves to tell people we meet that he may be my fourth grandchild, but he is my first grandSON.

He was excited a few weeks ago to bring his electronic Battleship game.  He knows that I used to play a similar game with his mom.  I tried to remember the game we played many years ago as we started and he assured me that it took him a while to learn it.

Finally, he took out the directions, scanned the pages and closed the book.

"It's not here," he said with a sigh.

"Doesn't tell me how to teach my grandma how to play this game."

As I reflected on that, I thought of my third favorite thing about my life this Christmas 2018 - the fact that every Monday night I get to be with an incredible group of women as we study the best directional book that I know of...the Bible.

Fortunately, it tells us not how to play the game but how to live the life...and as I follow those directions I find that I have joy, peace, and love.

I'm going to keep enjoying my three favorite things -- and pray that as I follow the directions in God's Word, those people are also going to enjoy me!

May your life be filled with enough Sunshine 

to make you appreciated the Shadows

It works for me

At a high school girlfriends luncheon this week the talk seemed to be about diets, exercise routines and what face cream is best for the wrinkles that are increasingly etched on each of our faces.

We were all searching for what works...and finally, someone said: "well it works for me."

More than 24 hours later, I cannot remember exactly what works; nor can I remember who it works for.

That conversation, however, made me start asking myself that some question - What works for me? And, no one is surprised to hear that I'm not thinking diets or exercise but rather what means do I employ that help me enjoy and appreciate the daily grind.

So - here's what works for me.

It's my faith  - the belief that nothing is going to come my way unless it's sent to me for a reason and that sometimes what comes will be positive and yes, just like the wrinkles on my face, some are not going to make me smile.

And it's a hope that even when life seems a bit bleak, there's a rainbow behind those torrential rain showers and though the shadows are a bit foreboding, there's still sunshine somewhere.

More specifically.

Our mother taught us that when we are going through something difficult the best solution is to say the name Jesus again and again.  I've done that when facing a painful physical procedure and when I am confronted with an issue that seems too big for me to handle.

I shared this concept with my prayer group last week.  I told them that's what I'd suggested to my mother when she is in pain.

And then I had a stressful morning and so many things to be going awry in my little world.  My friend, Anne put her hands on my shoulders and very gently said: "Just say, Jesus".

It works for me!

May your life be filled with enough Sunshine 

to make you appreciated the Shadows