Books and Covers...and People - Virginia Smith

"You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. … So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another." Romans 14:10, 12-13a

You can’t judge a book by its cover. We've all heard that saying. I know it's true, literally. I received a book as a gift not long ago, and when I saw the cover, I thought, "Nah. That story doesn’t appeal to me." Then, a week or so later I became desperate for fresh reading material and picked up the book. Wow. Within a page or so I was into the story, hooked by the author's writing and the character's conflicts.

Perhaps, more importantly, the saying is true figuratively. How many times have I formed an opinion about someone because of the way they look? Oh, I’m never rude to people, but have I missed getting to know a truly delightful person because I didn’t take the time to see behind the façade? Have I been put off by a scowl, perhaps? Or by clothing that isn’t ‘appropriate,’ by my personal standards? Have I discounted someone because they don’t speak my language well enough, or because their beliefs aren't the same as mine? Or even because I’m intimidated by the air of success they project? Am I missing some truly great stories because the cover doesn’t look all that appealing to me?

In the Bible, the psalmist tells us that God knows the secrets of our hearts. What’s on the outside doesn’t fool Him at all. I pray He’ll help me to be more like Him, to look past outward appearances. I want to discover the amazing stories He has written in people’s lives.

What about you?



Virginia Smith is the author of over a dozen novels including, A Taste of Murder, which was a finalist for the 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. Her latest release, Third Time’s a Charm, is the heartwarming conclusion to the Sister-to-Sister Series, which is based on her relationship with her own sisters. Learn more about Ginny and her books at
http://www.virginiasmith.org/

Read Ginny's devotions.

Flamingo Creation - Angie Reedy

"How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast are the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand – when I awake I am still with you." Psalm 139:17-18 NIV

Flamingoes flew through my thoughts all weekend. I admired their slender necks and wondered about the choice for their body color. Were they the perfect shade of pink or would the color be too dark?

Thoughts of my creation have rarely left my mind since we made the plate together. My husband held the brush and executed the project. Our son globed paint on the plate and provided a running commentary about the perfection of his handprint compared to his baby sister’s, whose sole job was to press her tiny hand in the designated spot. This creation was produced in the pottery shop by picking out colors, keeping paint trays full, and giving lots of encouragement.

We eagerly waited for the completion of the plate as it fired in the blazing heat. My family talked about getting to hold it and, more importantly, giving it to Grams and watching her exclaim over the contributions of her treasured grandchildren, combined with her signature feathered friends. We anticipated the joy for everyone involved.

Fortunately, God thinks about you and me infinitely more times than my thoughts have turned to this eternally insignificant plate. Just the thought of the One who rules the Universe thinking of me at all boggles my mind. To know He thinks about me every day, every hour, every minute—as often as my heart beats—drives me to my knees. How could it not?

In light of that fact, my thoughts towards the flamingo handprints seem trivial and I’ve wondered why I feel so attached to a piece of painted ceramic. Maybe it’s because we, as a family, invested a piece of ourselves into this gift of love.

We might look for the smudge spot we erased or analyze the accuracy of the color choices, but even though it’s not perfect, we will enjoy our creation and proclaim it a masterpiece, just as our Heavenly Creator does with us.

You can rest today, knowing God’s thoughts of you, His creation, are constant and loving.


Angie Reedy is a freelance writer living in Central Illinois. For six years Angie wrote market and competitive analyses for a Fortune 50 company, but now focuses her corporate writing and editing experiences into subjects of authentic life and faith. She writes a monthly newspaper column for an Illinois regional newspaper and regularly updates her blog, www.realreedy@blogspot.com. Angie is married to Walter and loves the daily surprises that come with parenting her two young children.

Read Angie's devotions.

Family - Andrea Merrell

"So then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone,and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith." Galatians 6:10 TEV


When I was growing up, it was not uncommon to hear the question, “Who do you belong to?” This would generally take place at weddings, funerals and family reunions, and would be asked by well meaning people who had not seen me in a long time.

Belonging is important. Everyone wants and needs to belong somewhere, to someone, or to something. Being part of a family is important but, in today’s society, we have a plethora of broken, mixed and dysfunctional families. When we feel like we don’t belong (or fit in), it can bring feelings of anxiety, insecurity, and despair.

If you’re a people-pleaser like me, you know that disappointment emerges when we don’t feel we have adequately performed or met another person’s expectations. Many times, just when we think we finally have it down pat, their standard changes and we find ourselves, once again, trying to gain approval and acceptance. It can become a constant cycle, much like the hamster running circles in his little wheel, accomplishing nothing and getting nowhere.

Earthly relationships are fragile and must be nurtured and protected. Even then, the divorce rate remains high. Kids run away from home and parents abandon kids. Families fall apart and friendships dissolve. When the monster of offense rears its ugly head, no relationship seems safe from the onslaught.

As I was praying about this recently, the Lord gently reminded me that, when we become part of His family, there is a sense of stability and assurance nothing else can offer. When we belong to God, He promises to never leave or forsake us. He will never divorce, reject, or abandon us. The Bible calls Him a friend that sticks closer than a brother. God is our comforter, protector, and healer. He is also our provider, with a liberal supply of peace, wisdom, strength, and joy. He is El Shaddai—the all sufficient God—everything we need. The best part is, He always will be.

Need a family? God has a place reserved just for you.



Andrea Merrell is a freelance writer and editor with a passion to help others see God’s Word as practical and relevant for ordinary, everyday life. She has written material for ladies’ groups, marriage retreats, skits, websites, and brochures, and is currently working on three novels and countless devotions. Andrea is a staff writer and copy editor for www.ChristianDevotions.us and www.DevoKids.com, and lives in South Carolina with her husband (and best friend), Charlie. Visit her website at www.andreamerrell.com. Read Andrea's devotions.

Ride of a Lifetime - Joe Morris

"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." Deuteronomy 28:2


“What do you think?” I asked my son as we stared at the river flowing beneath us. He shrugged, his apprehension obvious. We walked toward the building where we’d rent our wetsuits. Minutes later we gathered with the other rafters by the edge of the river to hear the safety speech. We’d be assigned a guide, and begin our down-river adventure in an inflatable raft meant to carry us through both rapids and calm waters. It would be a 10 mile journey that sunny morning.

The first few miles were uneventful as we floated along the calm waters under a beautiful Colorado sky. Our guide, a young Christian man, talked of his college plans while pointing out various rock formations in the canyon as we passed. Before long we faced the first set of rapids. I glanced at my son, seated between his mother and me, to make sure he was ready. As we entered the rapids, a wall of water rose above the raft and engulfed us. When the rush subsided, I eyed my son to see how he had fared. A huge grin split his face.

The rest of the ride consisted of moving from one rapid to the next with short bursts of calm—kind of like life. Like life, we would have missed the enjoyment that day had we simply stood on the banks, afraid to test the waters. Reflecting on that day makes me wonder how much joy I have missed throughout my life because I was afraid to trust God—jump in the boat.

Maybe you understand. Maybe you’ve been there in your own life; feet planted firmly on the shore while God asked you to test the waters. Don’t let fear or uncertainty rob the joy you could be experiencing. Push into the deep waters of your faith and see what God has in store for you. You could experience the thrill of a lifetime. You’ll never know if you refuse to leave the shore.



Joe Morris is married to Kim. He resides with his family in Platte City, Missouri. Joe has been published in The Family Journal. He serves as treasurer, assistant Sunday school superintendant and assistant adult Sunday school teacher in his church. Read Joe's devotions.

Choosing Hope - Jocelyn Green

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

What is it you hope for? Perhaps it is the safety of your husband or wife, or for an easy transition after deployment, or for a certain assignment. Or, could it be that you have been walking in difficulty for so long you are finding it difficult to hope at all? If you find your faith giving way to doubt, you are not alone.

The theme of hope runs throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Hebrews 11 honors heroes of the faith for righteousness even when they could not see the end result. Verse 11 says, “By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”

If you remember the story, you will recall that Sarah had such a hard time allowing herself to hope God would keep his promise of giving her a son that she gave her handmaiden Hagar to Abraham to have a son through her. She took the matter into her own hands before the Lord’s plan came to fruition. And yet, after years of waiting, God still kept his promise and allowed her to give birth to Isaac, who would be the father of countless generations.

In our darkest hours, what we believe about God is the only thing that can sustain us. Our hope should be placed in God’s character, not in our outward circumstances. When we have no answers to the “Why” questions, it is our answer to “Who” – our knowledge of God and assurance that He is good and sovereign – that keeps us going.

“In all of my trials, it has become quite clear that I have a choice,” says Army Chaplain wife, Rebekah Benimoff. “I could take all my pain and grief and unanswered questions and truthfully, honestly submit them to El-Shaddai, ‘The God Who is Sufficient for His People,’ or I could choose to turn away from Him and become resentful. I could choose Hope – or I could choose to walk away from hope. How could I choose hopelessness, when there is such HOPE to be found? I choose hope despite what I cannot understand. I choose to believe that God is who He says He is, despite what my circumstances are.”

There is hope in husbands and wives, hope in children, hope in families and hope in the future, when we look toward Christ.

Jocelyn Green is an award-winning freelance writer and author of Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (www.faithdeployed.com), from which this devotional was adapted. She and her husband Rob live with their two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa.


Publisher: Moody Publishers
ISBN-10: 0802452507
ISBN-13: 978-0802452504

A Little Goes a Long Way - She Said

"Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to."
Deuteronomy 15:10

Listen to A Little Goes a Long Way

She looked pale, her eyes sunken but her smile was unfailing. The perky college sophomore bounced into the church sanctuary, waving toward us. She was a petite girl, but that day, she looked especially thin.

“How are you sweetie?”

“Great! Can’t complain.” She wrapped her bony arms around my neck and hugged.

“You feel way to skinny, girl. Aren’t you eating?”

Her smile faded. “I can’t lie. I’m strapped. With my brother being sick, mom losing her job and me being in college, I’ve been trying to take up the slack. Been eating crackers, mostly.”

The 20-year-old, full-time college student cared for two families on her full-time, minimum wage salary. The child was starving. She’d sacrificed her own needs to give to her family.

We weren’t in a great financial spot ourselves. Our own son’s medical needs had left us literally saving pennies in a jar. But the day before, we’d taken $100 from the jar to buy our groceries, with our spare change for our empty cupboards.

Slipping my hand into my purse I pulled out the $100 bill and pressed it into her palm. “Take this and buy groceries.”

A tear dripped off her cheek.

Giving is hard at times. Especially when our needs appear to outweigh the needs of others. But how do we know, really? All we know for certain is that God instructs us to give to the poor, to those in need, without hesitation, without strings, but with a generous heart.

Two years later, I saw that girl again. Newly married, she and her husband now held good jobs. She wasn’t wealthy, but she wasn’t starving, either. Pulling out her checkbook she scribbled a check for $400.

“Here,” she said, handing me the check. “This is your money back, plus interest.”

“Not my money. God’s. And it wasn’t a loan. It was a gift. I can’t take it.”

Her faced dropped. “Then what can I do for you?”

“It’s enough to know you’re happy and successful. Now, if you really want to do something for us, give that money to four students who, now, are like you were, then.”

A week later she sent a list of students she’d helped. Later we found our friend had requested the same thing of the students she’d given money to, that they give to someone else, as well. Long before the movie, God had already introduced the concept of Pay It Forward. All we did was obey and honor His word. Now, fifteen years later, the Starving Student Award continues to be awarded to a select group of students at East Tennessee State University.

God blesses those who give wholeheartedly. Do you see a need that should be met? Make a difference and give generously. A little given without hesitation goes a long way.

P.S. On a side note, our agent at Hartline worked in Haiti for a number of years. Obviously, her heart goes out to the people of that island whom she still knows and loves. If you wish to contribute, she’s pulling together a care package to send to those she can help on the island. You can mail your checks to: Diana Flegal, Hartline Literary Agency, 703 Vanderbilt Drive, Monroeville, Pa 15146.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and co-founders of ChristianDevotions.us. They co-write the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host BlogtalkRadio's Christian Devotions Speak UP! along with Marianne Jordan.

And now you can catch them each Friday evening at 7 p.m. on He Said, She Said Radio! (Call in number, 646-929-0706 ). They travel with Christian Devotions Ministries teaching the art of writing devotions at writers conferences across the country. Eddie and Cindy are featured in Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust - A Journey to Financial Dependence.

Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6
Price: $9.95

Affairs of the Heart - Protecting Family - Jocelyn Green

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

A woman in our Coast Guard unit had been corresponding with her old boyfriend for months. Unbeknownst to her husband, she was emailing and instant messaging late into the night. She was convinced she would be happier if she filed for divorce, hoped for the best for her children, and returned to the arms of the one she did not marry.

While the geographical distance prevented her from having a physical relationship with this man, she was clearly in an emotional affair. Perhaps she thought emailing couldn’t hurt anything. But the more she shared of her heart with the man, the more her desires bent toward being with him as a permanent solution to her loneliness and dissatisfaction in her marriage.

Each one of us is vulnerable to the same situation. Those of us who would “never have an affair” might just be feeling lonely enough to mention it to a sympathetic listener. If he (or she) offers us the attention we are craving, how can our hearts not want to go back for more? While not every emotional affair ends in a physical affair, you can bet that every physical affair once began as an emotional affair.

It’s inevitable that you will notice attractive men and women—and that isn’t sinful. It would be sinful if we allow that attraction to spur us on to develop an emotional attachment to that person. Here are some questions Shannon Ethridge suggests we ask ourselves to evaluate whether we, as married individuals, are in dangerous territory:

• Do you think of this man or woman often (several times each day) even though they are not around?
• Do you go out of your way to run into them?
• Do you wonder if they feel any attraction toward you?

One way to play it safe and help guard our hearts is to guard our mouths. Flirting, complimenting, complaining, confessing, and inappropriate counseling and praying are all ways of communicating that could lead to a deeper relationship—in other words, avoid them!

If you find yourself struggling to reserve your heart’s affections for your spouse, seek out a trusted friend to serve as an accountability partner to you. You are less likely to stumble if you know you’ll have to report it. “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”.

Jocelyn Green is an award-winning freelance writer and author of Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (www.faithdeployed.com), from which this devotional was adapted. She and her husband Rob live with their two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa.


Publisher: Moody Publishers
ISBN-10: 0802452507
ISBN-13: 978-0802452504

Precious is the Gift - Curt & Marybeth Whalen

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

I love the Christmas season. It’s my favorite holiday. Our home is filled with bright lights, special decorations, and wonderful smells. But Christmas can also be filled with anxiety and stress. In our rush to different activities, holiday crowds, and the pressures of spending more than we expected, it’s easy to lose track. If we’re not careful, by December 25th, we’ve lost our Christmas joy.

We work to keep Christmas in perspective. With daily commercials advertising every toy on the planet, it’s easy for our kids to develop a “we want stuff” attitude about the Christmas holidays. It's important to do things to remind them that Christmas is meant to be a demonstration of God’s love. Over the years, we’ve picked children’s names off an Angel Tree or bought gift cards for families who were struggling. This year, our church had a night where families could come and make Christmas shoe boxes for Samaritans Purse. Each one of our kids joined in, filling boxes with toothpaste, socks, washcloths, and school supplies. I prayed with my kids individually before we turned our shoe boxes in, asking God to bless the child that received the box. That was a special reminder that Christmas for many children in this world means getting a toothbrush or bar of soap. I don’t want my kids feeling guilty for what they have, but I do want them to appreciate the many ways our family has been blessed.

Secondly, we use a Christmas budget, paying cash for purchases. We begin discussing our Christmas spending early in the fall, listing how much money we think we’ll have, and who we’ll want to give gifts to. Marybeth finds creative ways to stretch every dollar, buying gifts when they’re on sale. Marybeth makes batches of special treats like pumpkin and eggnog bread for our friends, family members, and church staff. Even with all our planning, things can still get tense when the cash envelop nears empty. But we’ve learned the hard way. It’s much less stressful budgeting and using cash for Christmas than running up credit card debt, knowing thousands of dollars will soon be due.

Mary and Joseph were awed by the gifts of the Magi—gifts not only precious in terms of wealth, but precious in terms of the heart. Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It’s about family and spending and making time together. Make your gifts special and from the heart. Forget about overspending to impress. Keep in mind, it’s the spirit of giving that makes the gift wonderful. It’s possible to preserve your sanity and your joy. Remember what's important and work together as a family to keep your focus on Him.

Marybeth Whalen is a speaker and contributing writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries. The author of “For the Write Reason” and “The Reason We Speak,” Marybeth has also written for Parent Life, Money Matters newsletter, The Old Schoolhouse, Hearts at Home magazine, and Homeschooling Today. She and Curt are the parents of six children (which has taught them much about how to stretch a dollar!) Visit her website at www.marybethwhalen.com.

Curt Whalen is a trained financial counselor through Crown Financial Concepts and helps couples learn to create budgets, solve financial problems, and communicate more effectively about money. He has written articles for TEACH Magazine, Money Matters Newsletter, and has contributed to books by authors Lysa TerKeurst and Melanie Chitwood. Visit their website at www.marybethandcurt.blogspot.com.

Away from the Manger - Terri Kelly

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:6-7

The pastor read from Luke, “So Joseph also went up …to Bethlehem…to register with Mary, who …was expecting a child.” My mind jumped ahead, “because there was no room in the inn.” He read Matthew, “… Herod called the Magi ... When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem.”

The innkeeper and Herod are infuriating characters. How could anyone turn Mary and Joseph away or harden their heart to Jesus?

As the children’s choir sang Away in a Manger, I scribbled my to-do list on the church bulletin: card to Dawn, buy eggnog, get cinnamon sticks. My mind wandered away to Christmases past. One year I sent cards to friends I’d not contacted in decades and mailed every card but one. I scratched my head, remembering the year I’d cooked my way through December, presenting the perfect Christmas dinner. The table, which could have rivaled any all-you-can-eat bar, bulged with barely enough room for family.

The choir lulled me back to the present as they sang, “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.” The memory of the year my mom spent Christmas alone and wound up hospitalized a few weeks later, snuck into my head. I wiped my eyes “Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay . . .”

The pastor suggested we set up a nativity in our home to remind us of our Savior’s birth. I ought to buy a Nativity scene, I thought, but it doesn’t match the Santa scenery.

Later I pulled the card from my desk, the one I’d not sent, wrote a quick note, and double-checked the address on the alumni website. I gasped at the computer screen.

Dawn Brackett. Deceased.

Fingering the card, I dabbed my eyes as I treasured the memory of our friendship and hummed Away in a Manger. “Bless all thy dear children in thy tender care.”

For so many Christmases, away from His manger, no room in my schedule, no room for my family, I hardened my heart to a dear friend and turned away my mother playing the part of a busy, distracted innkeeper and hard-hearted Herod, I forgot the nativity—the birth of our Savior.

Have you spent the season away from his manger? Is there room in your heart this Christmas for Christ? Are you throwing your heart into the season and forgetting his manger, his flock?

Please Lord, “take us to heaven to live with thee there.”

Merry Christmas,
A Reformed Innkeeper

Terri Kelly is a wife, the mother of two gifts from God, and a teacher with a Master of Arts. Terri write tips for teachers, mothers, and women at her blog: http://www.davincisclassroom.wordpress.com/ She is the editor of Christian Devotions' http://www.devokids.com/ and she travels sharing her skills at writers conferences. She believes she's encountered enough mama dramas to write for decades and is currently working on a children's book. Terri is a featured writer in Spirit & HEART: A Devotional Journey

Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN:978-0-9822065-1-5
$9.95

A Brother in Arms - Pam Klopfestein

"Thou therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2 Timothy 2: 1-3 (KJV)

Night fell, and the only sound was the wind rustling the tree outside my bedroom window.

I moved to the edge of my bed, gazing out at the night sky blanketed with stars. I thought about all of the soldiers who had spent time in various wars to protect our country so we could have freedom.

While my mind ran through a list of the many soldiers, one in particular came to mind. His name is Benny Isabell. Benny served in Vietnam. He was wounded in action. He put his life on the line so people like me could have freedom--so my family could have freedom.

This thought alone reminded me of how Christ came and died so that the chains of sin that bound me could be loosened and I could go free.

I stood in the congregation of our church and stared straight ahead. There was Benny, our deacon, our piano player, our teacher who continues on the battlefield today for Christ. When he’s not teaching, he’s a man of few words, but he doesn’t have to say much because his humbleness and dedication to the church and to our Lord speaks volumes. Benny is steadfast in the building of God’s Kingdom, in helping strengthen families.

I’m thankful for all the brave soldiers who risk their lives daily so people like me can have liberty. But I’m also grateful for those brave soldiers who stand daily on God’s battlefield.

Benny is not only a brave soldier but my brother in Christ. Thank you, Benny, for agreeing to stand and serve with me.

Have you given thanks to those who fight for us and with us in the flesh and spirit? Have you put your arms around them and told them how much you love and appreciate them? Are you a soldier for Christ?

My prayer: Dear God: I always want to be in the center of THY will.

**Benny Isabell, a 1966 graduate of Lake City High School, entered the Army August 18, 1967. He took his infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Lewis, Washington before being transferred to Vietnam. Benny was injured near Chu Lia, Vietnam while on patrol with his unit, the 198th Light Infantry Brigade. He received wounds in the stomach and leg. He was awarded the Purple Heart.**

Pamela Klopfenstein is a freelance writer and has had articles published in magazines as well as online. She started writing shortly after the death of her four-year-old son, Jonathan, who was disabled. “My Heart Will Forever Go On,” can be purchased at amazon.com or any other online bookstore. Pam enjoys writing about God and true-to-life experiences. She is a nurse by profession, an adoptive parent, and resides in Ohio with her husband Kurt, and their four children, Jeremy, Matthew, “Da’oshia,” (adopted) and Dalaquan.

"Merry Birthday Christmas" - Kevin Spencer

“They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chest and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

“Oma!!! Opa!!! Oma!!! Opa!!! Santa Claus was here!! Santa Claus was here!!”

My grandson was beside himself with joy. Last year was his 2nd Christmas with us since we took him into our home to raise, and now being a big 4-year-old, he had a much better handle on the whole Santa Claus/Christmas thing. Mostly he understood it meant PRESENTS. Drum sets and race cars, trains and monster trucks presented themselves in a wondrous array from beneath the Christmas tree.

Under the tree, now practically buried by stacks of brightly wrapped gifts, was something else that had held his attention—a Nativity Scene, complete with Wise men, livestock, angels and, of course, Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus in his manger. Caleb had helped set it up. He had originally balanced baby Jesus precariously on the back of one of the Wise men’s camels. “Baby’s can’t walk, so they have to ride.” he announced.

But it was the fact we were celebrating Jesus’ birthday that really got his attention. Caleb has a Christmas birthday too—December 13th. Several times last Christmas season, especially around his birthday, I found him stretched out under the Christmas tree playing with the Nativity scene, gently walking the ceramic Wise men with their gifts over to the ceramic baby Jesus, and softly singing “Happy Birthday to You.”

So, I don’t worry too much about Caleb and Santa Claus, and the way his eyes light up at all the materialistic trappings of Christmas, because I’m pretty sure that underneath all that, in his own 4-year-old way, he gets the true meaning of Christmas. I think he knows what a lot of us adults tend to forget, that the tiny, swaddled, baby Jesus, half hidden behind all the other brightly wrapped presents, is our true and greatest Christmas gift.

Thank you, my dear Caleb, for reminding me what that little ‘baby in a manger’ in our Christmas Nativity scene really represents. Thank you for the dancing light in your eyes on Christmas morning, that reminds me of the eternal light to the world that was born on that same morning 2000 years ago. And thank you, Father, for your wonderful, everlasting gift of Love.
Happy Birthday, indeed.

~**~**~

And one last personal note, if I may. On this date, December 6th, 6 years ago, God blessed me with the most wonderful woman to be my wife. Thank you, Charlotte, for 6 beautiful years of joy and love. You are my heart and soul, and I'm the luckiest man in the world.

Kevin Spencer lives in Tennessee with his beautiful wife Charlotte and grandson Caleb. A former prodigal son, Kevin is now trying to use the gifts God gave him, and by the grace of God has a life far better than he ever deserved.