The Romance of The Christmas Card... or Mhyrr

EMMANUEL………………."God With Us”

He dwelt among us. He dwells among us. Christmas traditions. Candles burning, hot chocolate by the fire, warm and beautiful quilts, a sparkling Christmas tree. After a difficult childhood and youth, I clung in my adult years to the human and earthly beauties of Christmas traditions, savoring Christ’s story, but also relishing the material and romantic blessings of Christmas in America. I loved the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas and filled it with Christmas craft parties, teas, shopping, card and gift making, walking to see the Christmas lights, and especially writing Christmas messages to loved ones on beautiful Christmas cards. When my kids were younger, I made them fancy Christmas shirts with big pictures of someone (yes, it was santa claus) embroidered on with ribbons and lace; they wore these shirts with red and green pants every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have relished this time with a thirst that I can see I needed for Someone else, Jesus. There is nothing wrong with loving life, I know, but when it squeezes the Truth, the Word, the Person of our Triune God and a deep understanding of Him out of our lives……………then, God may lovingly set us back on our wobbly legs on our crooked path to Him.
Kate Douglas Wiggin wrote a book in the 1800’s called “The Romance of the Christmas Card..” I have a beautiful copy of this book; on the cover is a beautiful picture of a quaint home nestled in the snow with smoke wafting from the chimney. Ah, I just love this book; it seems to capture my “feelings” about Christmas. Romance is the imaginations of the man, the exaggerated feelings and emotions associated with his or her creations; romance is truly the celebration of man and his creativity…………..pure romance is this combined with the denial that God created man in His Image and that any ounce of creativity that we have has its Source in HIM. Romance is man idealizing the creation and forgetting about God. Romantics heighten emotion and seek to make everything “perfect.” A perfect setting, situation, atmosphere that is pleasing to sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Romantics might not want to talk about problems because it might spoil the atmosphere. The beautiful literature and artwork of the early 1800’s galvanized the idea for men that he was indeed beautiful and capable of goodness and perfection. The beauty of these works gave the creatures the confidence in his ability to create his own reality, a reality of beauty and human grace. We all know this was not truth and the realities became problems with the Industrial Age, human poverty and squalor, World Wars, greed. What also came along was man’s expression of himself as broken and fractured and pessimistic as seen in Modern Art and the rock music of the 1900’s.
This Christmas, the Christmas of 2008, I was going to start my Christmas cards early so that I could write a personal message on each one. I had so many people in my life who had no idea how much they meant to me. This year we had some problems and work that really looked like it was going to drain our Christmas time dry but I was still determined to do it my way. Ten days before Christmas I had not written one card and I had many duties that were not Christmas related before me. Finally, I set the stage and Jenny and I sat close to each other on the couch by the Christmas tree with boxes of Christmas cards spread out before us on the tea- stained carpeting. We were both a little tired, but that was OK, we could still do it. Above us was the bathroom that began to echo the loud wretching of my husband with the most virulent Christmas stomach virus that we had ever encountered. He was sick for two days and nights until his admission to Ephrata Hospital on Monday evening. Listening to his misery that evening took every thought of ours captive………………we didn’t do much writing.
The next week, the last full week before Christmas, progressed with the “unforeseen plans of mice and men” as my mother always quoted to me in my childhood. In one week, I sat in three different doctor’s offices crying about three different family members (one was myself) and none were psychiatrists. No one was given any dire diagnoses, the problems are probably temporary. I am sure that I exaggerated the problems because of the lack of sleep that all of our family had endured because of the Christmas virus. I washed all of the blankets in the house and broke the washing machine. I climbed over the ever growing pile of laundry to make it to the garage to take 4 trips to the hospital, 3 doctors’ appointments, about 6 trips to the grocery store and the usual piano, flute and violin lessons. When the nurse discharged Pete from the hospital, she gave me his pink basin and pitcher to keep and I wondered who I could give it to for Christmas. As the days went by, I occasionally remembered the Christmas presents plopped in a pile on the basement floor. Someone must be dreamin’ of a wet Christmas because it has rained a lot this week and I keep hoping that the sump pump is still working. My daily walk around the block three times has left my life, but somehow I still manage to find those store-bought Christmas cookies and Elizabeth’s chocolate chip pancakes. Well, we strung the Christmas lights over dusty bookcases and grimy shelves and plugged ‘em in.

Life is not romantic. And in the midst of the “wretched” week, God gave me a deep and holy Christmas message. The true message of Christmas is that Jesus came to die and dwell among us……….in very unromantic conditions. Matthew Henry says that our Savior being born in a stable (Luke 2:3-7) represents the “corruption and degeneracy of mankind” and the humiliation of our Lord Jesus. “We were become by sin like an outcast infant, helpless and forlorn; and such a one Christ was.” (Matthew Henry) If Jesus’ family had been rich, there would have been a room for them. Dirty, sharp hay, smelly manure, very cold temperatures with only strips of cloth for warmth, worry about getting sick, the loneliness of having a baby where no one cared enough to make room in the inn, the fear that a powerful king wanted to kill their Son.
We even romanticize the manger scenes with our Fontanini Nativity sets. The truth is that Jesus came to die because of the stench of death in all of us………selfishness on earth and burning in hell are not romantic pleasures; they are not pleasant aromas.
“Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11. The myrrh was the holy message that God gave me in my wretched week. Myrrh, the gift of the Wise Men who lovingly and expectantly blessed the Baby’s purpose………………death. Myrrh was used in this Middle Eastern culture to embalm dead bodies.


“Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in a stone-cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.” (John Henry Hopkins, Jr.)

I had never known this about the myrrh before. My loving Father decided to teach me this week about myrrh, that He will be glorified in this sinful and sad world. That all the tragedy that I see around me, the sad stories that many weary pilgrims have told me this year will be glorified when He appears to take us home. My friend with 4 little children who lost her husband to cancer, my friend with cancer who beams joy and love and the loveliest smile in the midst of her surgeries and treatments, loved ones worried about losing their jobs and homes, some working 2 and 3 jobs, loved ones concerned about their autistic child, loved ones in pain with Lyme’s Disease and MS, and yes, loved ones experiencing another Christmas without the Hope and Consolation of Christ. Myrrh means that our true home is with Him, in Him, not in our earthly circumstances and our earthly accomplishments. His significance was not in the stable or manger or in the clothes that He wore, the job, the admiration, the recognition, the praise, the friendship, the love that He received, or the home that He supped in; it was in His death for our sin, to give us Life with Him and in Him, now and in Heaven.
My myrrh this week was in my tragic and virulent selfishness, the root of all my sin. I was not happy this week about my Christmas plans being altered, about being only able to keep up with the mundane duties and details of life that seemed to be my only lot in life. I wanted to sit quietly, being perfectly rested in a clean house, and write about all that God is doing in my life this year. I can see now how selfish I was and that this is why He came at Christmas, to teach me to ask to die to myself and to live for Him. All week long I battled dying to my self and my romantic vision of how life should be, my desire to be satisfied with my earthly circumstances.

Romanticism is part of who we are as humans. We are romantic and a certain amount of earthly loveliness is well and good and a precious gift of God. It is not bad to create a cheery and warm home and pleasant atmosphere. But Reality is Christ and we must always remember for every creaturely comfort we enjoy, there are hundreds in our own communities that are lonely, lost, and in need of things and comfort from us. I thank God that I have the privilege of setting my needs aside to help sick people, but I see even more clearly that this really does bother me and I need help with this, that my battle with self versus helping others is a true cross that I need to take up to follow Christ. (Luke 9:23). This is Reality. Christ alone can cover my sins, my irritations, my annoyances, my selfishness, with His goodness. Reality is sitting in the midst of a “perfect” Christmas with the “perfect” atmosphere, and Him saying, “Can you trust me in your afflictions?” When things are less than perfect, when the atmosphere is tarnished by financial fears, economic recession, unemployment, chronic illness, selfishness and strife………..do I love and trust Jesus as my Sovereign Lord who may want to refine me through weakness? Do I experience His love in my earthly humiliation? Do I trust Him to work out for Good the problems in my life and the profound sadnesses I see in others?

The Lord gave me some other gifts this year. My husband taught me some things about Christ’s parables related to his own life. And about a month ago, we had a Thanksgiving Tea and there were five testimonies given. Three were by my own daughters who expressed publicly how God had worked some beautiful Biblical truths out in their lives. A fourth testimony was by a dear friend who I love. She testified to God revealing to her the poignant beauty of His coming and His death to her recently through an Advent sermon. When hearing the Christmas story in church, she began to weep. After church, someone was lovingly concerned for her that she was crying. My friend thought, “Am I so callous and hardened that someone would think that the Christmas story would not make me weep?”

Enough said,

Love,
Kim

Encouragement for Mothers

It is time for school to start and mothers everywhere are preparing their hearts and hands in many different ways. Some are looking for forgotten books, running to copy a log that will be inspirational for their students; some are sending their children to school and others are preparing to home educate. We all have educational goals and want to start the new year right; we want discipline both for ourselves and for our students. What are our most important educational goals? I want mine to be to nurture my children’s heart for God, to teach them about Christ, to walk with them in the knowledge that serving God is the greatest objective and joy that we can have. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; this is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22:37-39. I want to teach them that love’s only source is Christ Himself, our only hope of true love is when Jesus becomes precious to us and restores us to our Father through His Holy Spirit. I want to occupy as much of our time as possible in this teaching, this search for real life and sharing of this real life with others. I want to dig deep into God’s Word with my students this year………….Oh, Lord, help me to do this, I have desired this before and fallen short because of all the earthly requirements that I cannot seem to see as less important than getting to know our Savior better.

Living and working in a family is the greatest calling that God gives us; from here we work out His plan for our lives. Being a mom, a dad, a daughter, a son, a sister and a brother, a husband, a wife; these are our greatest privileges. Our Heavenly Father gave up His Son to restore relationship with us. Jesus always referred to His Father, that they were together and of one mind, that they were One in love, plan, and purpose. He showed us that we must cleave to our families in love, plan, and purpose. His identity was rooted in His Father’s; I believe that we teach our children to cleave to their Heavenly Father through our cleaving to them, not in possession, but in love, patience, gentleness, longsuffering, kindness, companionship, and perseverance through the hard times. We walk alongside them and hold them up in their activities, we sacrifice our activities to help them with theirs.

If we walk alongside of them in patience and nurturing, we can have very high expectations for them. We all have to have much higher expectations and goals for our children. Not that they perform to make us look good, but that they will want to study God, learn the Bible while they have the time, and make their own plans to serve Him. And if they don’t? Lovingly help them to do this. Create situations in which they will succeed in serving God. A very Godly mother taught this principle to me and she is the mother of three very successful children, that is, successful in the eyes of the Lord, not the world. Children may ask to study the Bible if they know this is time to be with Mom and Dad talking together about God’s Word. I have always struggled with laying down my own activities, goals and desires to walk alongside of my kids as they made and carried out their plans. I am eternally grateful for the people that God has placed in my path to teach me to love my family by nurturing their interests and life purpose. I have lost the battle many times to my own selfishness. But, when God’s desires, that I sacrifice, won out in me, I have seen the fruit of my children growing in their identity in Christ.

Charlotte Mason was an educator in England in the 1800’s. She wrote books on the education of children. Education is much more than math and science; it is teaching about relationships, relationships with God, man and His creation. Through this lens of relationships, Charlotte developed her educational plan. Karen Andreola introduced me to Charlotte Mason’s ideas through her book Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning. Every parent who wants a deep relationship with his or her child might want to read this book! And of course there is that wonderful dilemma………..I don’t have time to read the book because I am spending time with my children! So, I want to share a section of this book that encouraged me 10 years ago when I was having a very gloomy day and has re-inspired me several times since to be grateful for God’s plan for true education for His children. This is from Karen Andreola’s book:

Magnanimity and Enthusiasm: (Chapter 36)

“A soul occupied with great ideas best performs small duties.”
-H. Martineau

Magnanimity is generosity or nobility of mind or greatness of spirit. This quality of mind and greatness of spirit comes about through a combination of ‘high thinking’ and ‘lowly living.’ A magnanimous person thinks great thoughts but also is generous in overlooking injury or insult – for example, he or she rises above the pettiness or animosity. His intellectual pursuits do not make him ‘too good’ to do lowly chores.
‘Do you wish to be great?’ asks St Augustine. ‘Then begin by being little. Do you desire to construct a vast lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation. Modest humility is beauty’s crown.’
Home school (every parent schools at home, either all the time or part of the time) is the best place to raise children to be magnanimous. We can hold up Jesus Christ as the perfect example of magnanimity for our children. We can endeavor to be like Him. We can teach our children to share even when it is hard, to forgive when it doesn’t seem fair, give them opportunities to absorb the principle of magnanimity, and eventually see them turn into magnanimous persons themselves.
Was there ever a time when magnanimous minds were more needed? Charlotte Mason bids us to ‘endow our children, not only with a multitude of ideas, but with the greatest ideas and most noble thoughts mankind has to offer, springing from great minds in every sphere of human relationships.’ A person who contemplates these noble and great thoughts in humility will not become ‘high-brow’ or haughty, but magnanimous. It was Charlotte’s hope and prayer that magnanimity would be a character trait common to all her students.
…………….With the Bible, children can develop a relationship with God and learn to desire righteousness. With the humanities, children learn to see as a painter sees, for example, by studying great art. They learn to feel as a poet feels by reading poetry aloud. They listen to great music and read the best literature (including heroic biographies) and plays. We lead them to observe closely the wonders God has made in nature. We encourage them to pick up noble ideas that contribute to the training of their consciences. We want them to add to their collection the ideas also owned by those who are chivalrous, noble-minded, large-hearted, altruistic, and unpretentious. …………….
The words of George Elliot (she wrote Silas Marner) come to our aid:

If you sit down at set of sun
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting find
One, self-denying deed,
One word
That eased the heart of him who heard
One glance most kind
That fell like sunshine
Where it went-
Then you may count that day well spent.
But if, through the livelong day,
You’ve cheered no heart, by yea or nay-
If, through it all
You’ve nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one’s face-
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost-
Then count that day as worse than lost.

I invite you, continues Karen Andreola, to make it an educational goal to raise magnanimous children. Magnanimity is one big reason for placing emphasis on ideas derived from the humanities. Through narration a child verbally expresses these ideas. Through servanthood he humbly lives for others. These three- ideas, narration, and servanthood-can work well with both young and old people. To Charlotte, every well brought up person is one who has become magnanimous. He is a large-hearted person who practices high thinking and lowly living.”
-Excerpts from Chapter 36 in the Charlotte Mason Companion
By Karen Andreola

Thank you to Karen Andreola who has encouraged me once again to start another school year!
It’s Labor Day……………. I didn’t map out the math chapters or acquaint myself with Elizabeth’s science; I didn’t take my last chance to clean out a closet; I didn’t plan my meals for the next month or even go to the grocery store to get a fresh start for the first day of school. I didn’t find a place for 50 books on the floor or make up the girls’ logs…………….I studied magnanimity…… and hopefully, one weary mom will read it and feel as happy as I do to be a mother with the greatest life purpose any person could possibly have!
~Kim

Humility is hard. Sometimes it seems near impossible. It requires a total abandonment of our former sinful self that is so inclined toward pride and embracing the new self which is strange and uncomfortable. Still, we are told, that "whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Though to us it may seem hard, God promises to give grace to those who have a humble spirit. And with God, nothing is impossible.

I have found that humility is not comparing ourselves with others (we can always find someone worse off than we are to support our pride) but comparing ourselves with God. Its like the pharisee and the publican. When I compare myself with earthly things, I too easily pat myself on the back and say "Well, you're not so bad. Look at all the good things you have done!" However, to place my "good things" beside the perfection of a holy God, I can do nothing but plead with the publican, "Lord be merciful to me, a sinner!" A wonderful definition of humility is "recognizing that it is actually God and others who are responsible for the achievements in my life." I have nothing to be proud about, every good thing in me is is all of God.

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less" ~ Author unknown. Humility is losing sight of ourselves. It is looking to the needs of others. Often in times of self-consciousness, I want other people to pay attention to me. I think I have a right to be noticed and talked to. A humble heart does not selfishly desire gain or recognition, it does not assert itself or demand honor. It delights in the sucess of others and is pleased to serve the Lord in secret. "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (1 Pet. 5:5)

God promises great things for the humble. "By humility and fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life." (Proverbs 22:4) "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Matt. 23:12) When we are willing to do the little things, the unimportant and uncomfortable, God will do mighty things through us.

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility." Augustine

::Quick update of our month of May::
On May 9t and 10th, our family went to the Pennsylvania homeschool convention in Harrisburg. We had a booth for our family business and another booth representing the Bright Lights ministry. It was a wonderful time, talking to other homeschooled families, perusing the other booths and also listening to some great sessions. Here are some pictures:

~ Becky ~

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Just a few of the things we love about Dad~

He takes us on hikes in God's Creation

He is a great teacher about all kinds of things- history, politics, doctrine, sailing, how to build a rock wall, etc., etc.!

He keeps his promises

He protects us

He listens to us

He is a true "doer of the Word"

Happy 50th Birthday to the best father in the whole world!

Melodies Of Faith

This past Sunday evening we put on our play, "Melodies Of Faith." The Lord worked out all the details, and I think it went well!

The play was a collection of four hymn stories....

Just As I Am
Charlotte Elliot struggles with chronic illness. Although her family tries to encourage her, Charlotte can only find peace in Jesus Christ, by complete trust in His shed blood on her behalf.

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

When Civilla Martin visits her bedridden friend, Martha Doolittle, she is struck with the joy and peace that shines through Martha’s trial. On her way back home, Civilla
scribbles a poem expressing the precious watch-care of the Heavenly Father over His children.



Take My Life, And Let It Be

Frances Ridley Havergal is overwhelmed with a passion for Christ. After sharing Christ with two young girls desiring to know Him, Frances pens the hymn of consecration on her heart. She then continues to live it out in her daily life.



Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Adelaide Pollard’s dearest dream collapses when her church
informs her that they cannot support her as a missionary in Africa. Through the prompting of the Lord through an elderly woman at a prayer meeting, Adelaide discovers the joy of being in the center of God’s sovereign will.


The evening also included singing!

"Faithful is He who calleth you, Who also will do it..."

In Which We Go on a Grand Adventure

Home. How heart-warming that word sounds to someone who has been away for twelve days. Late Monday evening, four of us returned to our home from our vacation to California and Arizona. Even though the trip was agreed upon as one of the best times our family has ever had together, there is something about coming back to a familiar and dear place with all the little comforts often taken for granted. For instance, sleeping in ones own bed with as many blankets as desired, or not having to dig in a suitcase for wrinkled clothes and finding that you didn't pack what thing you are searching for.

Now that that has been said, let me also say what a special blessed time we had. Throughout our traveling (which included a first-time plane trip for us three girls), we saw God's divine intervention in our lives again and again. We were able to go many places and see many extraordinary sights. We also took over six hundred pictures (!). Here are a few of our favorites.

Arizona is so different from Pennsylvania! We saw scenery like this while driving to Sedona, AZ.




Sedona was voted "The Most Beautiful Place in America". We did some hiking here. It was much warmer than PA!

We thought that the top of this rock looked like a face...

The next place we visited was the Grand Canyon. It was so big it was overwhelming!


We were originally planning to walk down to the bottom (or at least part way) of the canyon. However, we decided against that plan when we saw the snow and ice on the trail which always followed a very steep edge! We contented ourselves with walking around the rim.

The beauty of creation caused us to think on the majesty of the Creator...

One of the best parts of being at the Grand Canyon was seeing about twenty elk on the second day. We were able to stand pretty close to some of them.


We were able to see the sun set twice on the canyon. Beautiful, but extremely cold!

After the Grand Canyon, we drove to the Sequoia National Park. It was a ten-hour trip and took us an hour after we entered the park to drive up the mountain to the lodge. While there was no snow at the bottom of the mountain, we were greeted by eight feet at the top!


We went snow-shoeing through the Giant Forest. The Sequoia trees were humongous, much bigger than I had imagined. They looked so stately and majestic.

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree in the world!

We spent my sixteenth birthday at the Sequoias and it was, without a doubt, the most eventful day of our vacation.

For the first time in the lives of Jenny, Elizabeth, and I, we went cross-country skiing. I surprised myself by actually really enjoying it.





Elizabeth was the best skier out of all of us. It came naturally for her and soon she was heading up and down hills like it was nothing. One area that Mom, Jenny, and Elizabeth were skiing in was a snow covered parking lot. It actually was very nice and smooth and seemed the perfect spot, until Elizabeth skied over what ended up being a snow-covered cement wall and fell, twisting her knee! It was very frightening, but thankfully we were at a place where things like this happen all the time. The lodge immediately sent out some paramedics with a sled to bring her back. Praise the Lord, she didn't break anything and nothing serious was injured, but she is now wearing a knee brace and using crutches, proof to all you doubters that we did indeed try skiing!

And so, it was an adventurous birthday, but it ended with thanksgiving to God who protects us and loves us exceedingly.

After all that, we were not exactly sure how much more excitement we could handle, but we continued on our journey anyway which took us to the coast of California.

Our first stop along the coast was a lovely little town, Monterey CA. Here we were greeted with springtime weather flowers blooming everywhere!

We watched the sunset on the beach. . .
And looked for seashells. . .

The next day, we drove to Arizona to fly home.

The view from the plane window.

We came home feeling blessed and assured of God's goodness, sovreignty and love.

~ Becky for the rest of us

Learning Chalk Art

We have just begun taking chalk art classes! Our teacher is a chalk artist named Elva Hurst. You can visit her website here.

We don't have a proper easel yet so we practice on the basement steps!
Becky is practicing trees here. She has been watching some instructional videos she got from Eternity Arts.
Look at those clouds! This past week in class we learned a lighthouse in the storm scene.
Here we are with our friends and teacher (who is on the right). Yes, this is messy work! Look at those hands and faces! Hopefully we'll learn to master the messy part.
Here is our teacher's picture under the blacklight. This photo doesn't quite give it justice!

One of our teacher's favorite verses is Psalm 90:17, which says, "And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. "