An Early Christmas...The Unexpected Gift

Christmas has come early for me this year. I wasn't expecting it and that's what makes it so special.

Sometimes the best gifts come from the unexpected, the long forgotten. My gift is coming in the mail. I haven't seen it in forty-plus years.

I know there are people who scoff at Facebook, but for me, it has been a bridge to connect with family and childhood friends who live in other states. When I married, I moved away from my hometown, and eventually from our home state of West Virginia to the beautiful state of South Carolina. We've been in South Carolina nearly 29 years. But I digress...

As I was scrolling through Facebook, I came across the picture of someone who'd recently joined. I recognized her face immediately. I sent a friend request, and she responded with a lovely private message.

The next morning, I awakened to another message from her telling me she had something of mine from when we were about eleven or twelve years old. She wanted to know if I would like to have it back, that she would be happy to send it to me. She said she'd kept it all these years hoping to find me one day.

Wait till I tell you what it is...if you've been reading my blog for any length of time you know I'm a sentimental sap so it couldn't get any better than this.

Are you ready?

She has a Bible that was given to me by my parents. She said I'd loaned it to her when she went to church with me. Now for some, that may not seem like anything special, but for me, there couldn't be a better gift.

I've spent the last several months in counseling, finally learning how to grieve losing a mother to cancer at the age of fifteen. Many things happened to me that prevented the grieving process. The anniversary of her death is approaching in a few days. To receive this most precious childhood Bible during this season of my life is truly a gift from heaven.

Losing a parent at Christmas is difficult, having a Bible returned at Christmas is a gift I will cherish.

Having a friend that cared enough to keep it all these years is even more amazing. As someone recently said to me, "tears are my only response."

How can you bless someone this Christmas with the unexpected? It doesn't have to cost much, or anything at all. It can be a gift of time or talent. The best gifts come from the heart and cannot be measured in dollars and cents.

My gift is priceless, and one I'll remember for many years to come, as well as the giver.

Christmas Blessings,
Cindy

The Most Important Book

I have an addiction. There...I said it. I have an addiction to the written word. I love books but magazines will do in a pinch and I've grown to love my Kindle because with a touch of a button...well...you get the picture.

When I walk into a bookstore and inhale deeply...go with me on this one...the aroma of books and coffee mingled together is almost enough to take my breath away. My heart starts beating a little faster, a smile spreads across my face, my mood immediately lifts and for the next hour or so I am in pure bliss. Yes...I have an addiction, and if many of you are honest with me, you are agreeing with me right now.

When I was a little girl, my hometown of Madison, West Virginia didn't have a public library. It was a wonderful place to grow up though. We had a book mobile that visited the downtown area every other Saturday...and every other Saturday I would faithfully lug all the books my scrawny little arms could carry back to the book mobile. I can still remember my teachers, Mrs. Songer and Mrs. Vandelinde reading aloud to us and instilling a love of reading in me. When report card time rolled around I cared more about the sticker telling my parents how many books I'd read instead of the grades I'd received. These are memories I treasure as well as the teachers.

So...it probably doesn't surprise you that my home is full of books. I'm continually organizing, weeding out and sharing. Books educate, entertain and inspire but the most important book by far is The Holy Bible. It is the inspired Word of a Holy God. It has the power to change a life, to rescue the fallen, to heal the broken, the wounded, the weary, the wicked. It has completely changed mine. It has the power to put nations in place and yet gentle enough to heal a broken heart. It is the only path to a secure eternity with a loving Father/Creator. I have many books that I love and read and collect but none that have stayed with me my entire life and that I return to over and over. It has proven trustworthy and its Author is faithful to stand behind every word written from Genesis to the maps. Why not check this book out? The public libraries are stocked and most bookstores nowadays have reading sections with comfortable chairs that you can peruse their books before you purchase and if you're near my little corner you can borrow one of mine!

Many blessings,
Cindy