Christmas Eve.

December had been difficult. Mainly, because we dug through a power line in our attempt to create a garden-like venue for future Shackelodge guests.

We tend to be penny pinchers and between the cost of hiring a backhoe and a bulldozer, the looming fine for our mistake, our water-heater going out, the propane tank being refilled, buying snow tires for our vehicles to be able to get out of the driveway, the loss of a renter, and the inevitable present laden Christmas that we have been grooming our children for the past 16 years for, we were feeling financially overwhelmed.

Not to mention a few strained relationship issues with close friends that needed to be resolved, and the labrinyth of emotions that comes with raising 3 teenagers and one pre-teen.

As I prepped my Cauliflower Fondue for our Christmas Eve Dipping Event of the Year, I snuck Alexa to the kitchen for a few precious moments of my choice of music. Again–3 teenagers. Landon had won an Alexa in a “No Cavity Club,” drawing in November, and our family takes turns sidling her away from each other.

I chose my go-to December station, “Christmas Folk.” An Barenaked Ladies rendition of “God rest ye merry gentlemen/We three kings” filled my matchbox sized kitchen.

Music often brings my thoughts to places that my mind doesn’t travel to on it’s own.

I believe that God speaks to us in different ways.

Some people say they hear an audible voice.

Some people say they have a thought that is unmistakably from God.

Some people hear God through a friend speaking into their life.

God usually speaks to me through music or through the words of a song.

As I listened, I thought about those wealthy kings and the impact that their gifts would have on this poor Jewish family.

Gifts for a family to whom gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh might mean the difference between surviving financially that year or not.

This was particularly striking following the December we had just had.

Those educated gentlemen, saw a star and because of their self-study and their hope, and perhaps even their curiosity, set in motion of course of action that would change history.

They chose to step out into the unknown,

out of their prestige,

out of their dignity,

to meet with a young family of no means.

They chose to trust that a little boy had come to fulfill obscure promises.

They chose to believe a young mother that assured that them that he was “The ONE.”

Their doubts may have continued to exist, but…

They looked at that little boy, and said,

“I. see. you.

You are special.

I see your potential.

And even if we have misjudged who we think you are,

I want to invest in you.

In who you can become.

Even if we are wrong in our belief,

even if we have got the wrong boy,

the wrong family,

our time,

our gifts,

are given GENEROUSLY

with expectant anticipation

that you will change the world for the better.

We recently had a group of cows get loose from a neighboring farm and wander through our yard.

My friend, Brach, said that although a calf isn’t as big as a cow it can be worth just as much. The price of a cow includes their potential future income.

Don’t get me wrong, I like cows, but we are so much more than cows. Shouldn’t we be willing in invest in each other in a similar way.

Invest in each other’s potential.

In what we could be.

In what we have that is unique and special.

In what we can bring to the world that no one else can.

This year, I choose to be generous.

Generous with my money.

Generous in my gratitude.

Generous in my love.

Generous in my mercy.

Generous in my forgiveness.

Generous in my encouragement.

Generous in my time.

Generous in my orthodoxy.

Generous in my trust.

Generous in my investment in others.

Generous in my belief for your potential.

As the Christmas season comes to a close, I hope that I get a chance to be generous to you.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your land
May the rain fall soft upon your face until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand

this coming year, 2020.