Greatness

{faith, hope, love}

A merry little Christmas

{The Nativity, by Gerard van Honthorst (1590-1656)}

Another Christmas is upon us.  There are gifts to give and those to unwrap, meals to prepare and share.  As we celebrate, let us not forget to find a quiet moment or two to remember the true meaning of Christmas… 

Let us fall in line with the shepherds and wise men, following that great and shining star; let us smell the dusty road, hear their tales of wonder, and see the angels sing; let us join this odd gathering as they tiptoe through the straw, kneel at a musty manager, and offer precious gifts to a newborn king.  What will we give?  What will we take away?  These things let us treasure, and ponder them in our hearts.       

Merry Christmas, my friends.

xoxo

Remembrance

{Tiffany windows of St. Peter's Chapel, Mare Island}

During my undergraduate studies, I was assigned the task of taking down an oral history.  Thanks to that assignment I had the pleasure of meeting a festy little lady by the name of  Hester, who worked in Mare Island’s flag loft during WWII. 

She worked eight hours a day, six days a week, in a stuffy, second story room where rows upon rows of women worked, side-by-side, by machine and by hand, sewing.  They sewed American flags, signal flags, table linens, and the occasional carpenter pant. 

I sat in rapt attention as she told story after story … of the care that went into each piece … the grueling days … the weekend dances that got them through … and the reason it was all worthwhile.

For December 7, 1941–after the bombing of Pearl Harbor–it was reported the Japanese were headed for Mare Island. People were panic stricken–screaming and pulling at their hair.  Luckily, an attack on Mare Island never happened … but the people never forgot.  The war, you see, had come to their doorstep.

I think of Hester often, but especially on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. She was a tangible reminder that the bombing of Pearl Harbor was more than a date in history … it was real people, with real lives, and real stories.  Military and civilian alike, they made the highest sacrifice … and for that, let us never forget.

A foundation of thanksgiving

 

Poor, poor Thanksgiving.  With both Halloween and Christmas marching in early, it doesn’t have a chance … or does it?

Thanksgiving Proclamation

{New York, 3 October 1789}

By the President of the United States of America {George Washington}

An Excerpt

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor– and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be– That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies[…] for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed […].

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions– to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed […]

Seems our Thanksgiving holiday has a rather solid foundation–and a solid foundation can withstand much. 

That alone is reason for gratitude. 

Now, it’s up to us to build wisely upon that foundation. We can tear down and start over if we must–so long as we get it right.  After all, if we haven’t a heart of thankfulness, I dare say, we have nothing at all …

Love

A few weeks ago, I found that my sweet nephew was drawing me a picture. My sister-in-law asked him if it was for me, he nodded.  Then she asked what he was drawing.  Love, he signed. 

I received my work of art last week; it sits in a place of honor above my desk.  Now, should I ever wonder what love looks like, I have only to look up…

{LOVE, by Micah Brueggemann}