Magic

It was an adventure that our families did annually together when our children were little. They had a truck, filled the truck bed with hay and Claudia and I bundled up the kids and the guys sat in front and drove us around to look at Christmas lights. When the light gazing wound down we unloaded at my mom's house as she would be waiting with cookies and hot chocolate. I mean really what is not to like about an adventure like that?

It was a memory that I may have cherished more than the kids and still do. So I decided to try to keep it going with my grand babies. I asked our good friend Toby if I could trade cars and borrow his truck for a few hours, and he was quite graceful in his reply, no grimaces, or head shaking just one of his "you are always up to something" grins and a "have fun" send off as he gave me the keys. I went to wabash and bought a couple of bales of hay, lined the truck with an old painting tarp that I found in the garage scattered the hay about and game was on.

Jamie and Jenn brought the kids by for a light pigs in the blanket dinner and some hot chocalate, becasue it would be too late when we got home, and then Jamie and the kids loaded up in the truck bed, and we were off, this time I was the driver. There is just something that I find to be lots of fun, still to this day, about trucks and driving in the wind and enjoying the magic of Christmas through an outside light show. There was one house that I had been by that had a yardful of hanging tree lights, lights around all the bushes, handing over the driveway etc. It was a massive, bright, beautiful and magic light display, and before we went out yesterday, I stopped and asked the owner if my grandchildren could get out and walk about her yard when we passed by. Her reply was surely but be careful of the cords. And so that was our first stop. They unloaded and walked around the yard gazing at the twinkles that were about them in awe. We only made a couple of other unload stops, just enough to give them a chance to run about The night was a fun one and one that I hope made a memory that will linger in their hearts as the memories that linger in mine continue to be rich blessings of fun and friendship. Jamie was a trooper, but she confessed that she too loves trucks and this whole riding in the back sitting in the hay was right up there with good times.

There isn't much to getting something like this going and I am sure you have your own memories of special times be it during the holidays or the regular year. But I think it is so important for us as parents and grand parents to not get lazy and to initiate moments that do make memories. You don't have to load a truck up with hay but it is a worthy effort to do something out of the ordinary that bonds a relationship. With kids it is easy to come up with something but moments for memories (I love M&M's and consider them to be constant reminders to make memories) are not just for kids. Think about it and come up with something to do with friends or family, it doesn't have to be expensive or outlandish, just a simple way to be together and encourage fellowship and fun. Think out of the box...

We get hooked into programmed routines, but having a little fun just brings joy to life and a lift to spirits.
God is full of new ideas for us to be involved in that not only bring us joy but bring others joy as well. If we seek his input he will light up out thoughts through his ideas. Think magic...not in a hoaxed way, but in a
reaching way for something that is out of your ordinary, and a sparkle of God's extraordinary. God is all for relationships, and as much as we talk of his majesty and sovereignty and infinite capacity to manage this universe, he doesn't want us to be stuffy and contrived but wants us to genuinely be able to enjoy life, and share with others his generated love that he has poured upon us.

The word "fun" is never used in the bible, oh but the word "joy", in several forms, joy, joyful, joyous is used 234 times. If, when our time on this earth has ended and we are presented by Christ to God the Father with "great Joy", how much greater would it be if that same great joy was a very part of our life on this earth now...it is ours to have if only we seek him now as wise men did then.

Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

The hayride was a first for my little four, Blake, William, Catherine and Sam. And I pray that God will continue to give me the ideas and energy to pursue the fun that should be interspersed with the serious business of responsibilities. May he do the same for each of you. Merry Christmas!

Dear Lord, Thank you for the grand display of Christmas lights. May they resonate throughout this holiday season a remembrance of your true light that is lit within us. Amen
Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!